Ba-dump, ba-dump.
His heart hammered against his ribs.
Bu Eunseol clenched his fists until the knuckles turned white. He bit his lip, barely suppressing the primal, overwhelming urge to unsheathe the Dark Sword and engage in immediate combat.
Watching the fire burning in the boy’s eyes, Ak Mu-ryeong’s lips curled into a smile.
“So, you have stepped into the beginning of the Supreme Heavenly Realm.”
Though Ak Mu-ryeong stood clearly before him, the voice did not travel through the air; it echoed from all directions, vibrating in the very atmosphere.
“Furthermore, I see traces of training your spirit… as well.”
As he smiled, the Ruler of Demons, whose existence had stood in stark contrast to humanity, shed his beastly skin. The terrifying radiance in his eyes softened to the warmth of sunlight, and his feral aura solidified into a majestic spirit reminiscent of a great mountain. It was a transformation so profound that anyone who met the Wolf Fang Pavilion Master’s gaze in that moment would have the image etched into their soul forever.
“Disciple of Wolf Fang Pavilion, Bu Eunseol…”
Just as Bu Eunseol lowered his head to bow—
Krummm.
A low rumble rolled through the earth’s axis. The ground beneath them trembled as if seized by an earthquake.
“Disciple of Wolf Fang Pavilion?”
“…”
“How can a disciple of the Wolf Fang Pavilion become a Squad Captain of the Demonic Palace without the permission of the Pavilion Master!”
The momentum shifted instantly.
The majestic Grandmaster of Martial Learning vanished, replaced once more by the Great Demon King of the dark world.
“Answer me. Why did you demand the position of Squad Captain?”
Ak Mu-ryeong’s voice dropped to a subterranean growl, his eyes sharpening into blades.
As Dan Cheong had warned, Ak Mu-ryeong not only possessed a volatile temper but was genuinely furious that an appointment had been made without his sanction. Bu Eunseol realized the truth of the warning: the Master of the Wolf Fang Pavilion was not a man who brooked dissent.
He truly is a demonic human.
Demonic Human, Ak Mu-ryeong.
As the master of this pavilion, he was a tyrant who viewed the lives of his sect disciples as less than dust.
“I absolutely had to become a Squad Captain.”
After a moment of deep contemplation, Bu Eunseol spoke.
“Because for a disciple of this Pavilion, there is only victory. Never defeat.”
To seize victory in the bloody succession war of the Demonic Palace, he needed loyal subordinates. For the sake of victory. That was what Bu Eunseol was conveying.
Ak Mu-ryeong fixed his mysteriously flashing eyes on Bu Eunseol’s face.
“You intend not to quit.”
Did he guess the truth from the boy’s firm expression, or could he peer into the spirits of others like the Divine Demonic Emperor? He had instantly seen through to the core of Bu Eunseol’s intent.
“The position of successor to the Demonic Palace, that is.”
“That is correct.”
“Do you think you have gained the upper hand?”
Ak Mu-ryeong looked down at Bu Eunseol with freezing eyes.
“Just because you killed an old man full of empty fame with your terribly weak martial arts?”
Although he had occupied the lowest seat, the Beggar King was an expert of the Four Gods and Seven Kings. Yet, Ak Mu-ryeong dismissed him as a “terribly weak old man.”
“With your current skills, you will not be able to handle those aiming for the fame of the Four Gods and Seven Kings.”
“I am also a disciple of the Wolf Fang Pavilion.”
Bu Eunseol’s voice remained firm.
“I do not wish to avoid any fight.”
Krummm.
Again, the thunderous voice shook the dry sky.
“You are mistaken.”
Ak Mu-ryeong looked at Bu Eunseol, the corners of his mouth twitching as if the boy’s resolve were ridiculous.
“Do you think this Pavilion Master gave such an order because I cherish you?”
“…”
“Sado Mu-myeong. That man tries to control everything with the word ‘fate’.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes wavered. Even during his duel with the Beggar King, he had briefly harbored a doubt. Was it possible that the Divine Demonic Emperor had intentionally forced him to learn the Secret Art of Severing Emotions? Perhaps the goal was to carve him into something emotionless, a tool easily controlled.
“I mean to say I will not allow a disciple of this Pavilion to become his puppet any longer.”
It was an unexpected declaration. Did those words imply there was another disciple of the Wolf Fang Pavilion whose fate had been twisted by the Divine Demonic Emperor?
“I…”
Bu Eunseol attempted to speak, but his jaw clamped shut. He recalled Deputy Pavilion Master Dan Cheong’s urgent request.
—Never talk back to the Pavilion Master’s words. I will take care of everything afterward.
“…Understood.”
Bu Eunseol bowed his head and clasped his hands. Since Dan Cheong had promised to take responsibility for the aftermath, he surely would. For now, the priority was to escape the gaze of the great demon who did not tolerate a single syllable of rebuttal.
But it was strange.
Even though he had given the desired answer, he felt a pair of frozen eyes scanning his entire body, dissecting him. It was a displeased, unpleasant sensation.
“You are not pursuing the Martial Way.”
Ak Mu-ryeong, whose eyes burned like demonic fire once more, stared intently at Bu Eunseol.
“You are merely trying to become stronger.”
Bu Eunseol flinched inwardly.
Wolf Fang Pavilion Master Ak Mu-ryeong seemed to possess the ability to pierce through the mind as effortlessly as he could the body, mirroring the Divine Demonic Emperor.
“Is pursuing the Martial Way not also for the sake of becoming stronger?”
At Bu Eunseol’s protest, Ak Mu-ryeong spoke in a solemn, heavy voice.
“Pursuing the Martial Way aims to realize the ultimate pinnacle of arts and reach an absolute state.” He paused, letting the weight of his presence settle. “It is different from simply becoming stronger.”
Ak Mu-ryeong’s suspicion was correct. Bu Eunseol was not interested in the philosophical end of martial arts or achieving an absolute state of being. His sole objective was to become strong enough to punish a killer who wielded immense power.
“I command you…”
As if sensing the divergence in their paths, Ak Mu-ryeong swept his sharp gaze down Bu Eunseol’s body.
“Enter closed-door training in this Pavilion for five years.”
Instantly, Bu Eunseol’s pupils trembled like agitated water.
If he agreed to this, even if Dan Cheong smoothed everything over… he could not return to the Demonic Palace with his head held high. The succession battle would be over before he stepped out.
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath. He sensed that the unavoidable moment had finally arrived.
“I cannot do that.”
Thud.
In that instant, a massive explosion detonated inside Bu Eunseol’s skull.
Ak Mu-ryeong had not attacked the flesh; he had struck directly at the formless spirit.
Kuh.
Just as Bu Eunseol was about to stagger—
Boom.
Another strange explosion rang in his head.
Ugh.
Bu Eunseol stumbled back a step, reeling like a man drunk on strong liquor.
“Did this Pavilion Master allow you to talk back?”
Ak Mu-ryeong’s voice, echoing from all directions, became thousands of jin of iron, pressing down on Bu Eunseol’s existence.
This is the Pavilion Master’s ability…
Demonic Human, Ak Mu-ryeong.
He was manifesting the formless power known as “mind”—not genuine energy—and striking directly at Bu Eunseol’s spirit. This was possible not merely due to high internal energy, but because his martial arts had attained a mysterious and profound state beyond the physical realm.
A formless attack that cannot be cut with a sword nor blocked with internal energy…
“Hmph.”
Ak Mu-ryeong snorted when Bu Eunseol staggered.
Martial artists, accustomed to physical agony, were often surprisingly vulnerable to mental pain. Peerless martial talents were particularly susceptible; having reached high levels without frustration thanks to exceptional bone structure and talent, their wills were often brittle.
But a glint of surprise appeared in Ak Mu-ryeong’s eyes.
Bu Eunseol, who had been reeling, stood upright with a calm expression, his mind clearing with unnatural speed.
“Impressive.”
Kuh.
As Ak Mu-ryeong’s voice reverberated in his ears once more, Bu Eunseol trembled. The mere sound of that low, peculiar voice felt like acid melting his mind.
I must endure.
Frowning, Bu Eunseol concentrated his thoughts. Moments later, he regained his composure.
Ak Mu-ryeong’s eyebrows twitched. He realized that the boy’s spirit was remarkably resilient.
“Interesting. Interesting.”
This time, Ak Mu-ryeong’s echoing voice transformed into rotating blades, digging into Bu Eunseol’s steel-hard spirit.
Hwa-ak!
Immense power, indescribable by mere words, crushed down on Bu Eunseol’s psyche. Had it been an ordinary person, their mind would have shattered, leaving them an imbecile with a single blow. But Bu Eunseol merely frowned briefly.
He possessed an innate strength of spirit. Moreover, since meeting Bu Jan-nyang, he had trained his internal energy while trapped in a coffin under the guise of the “Corpse Game,” overcoming claustrophobia, darkness, and primal fear. His spirit was as solid as that of a high monk who had devoted decades to mastering Profound Arts.
“Hehehe.”
As Bu Eunseol resolutely resisted the mental assault, Ak Mu-ryeong let out a low laugh. His eyes flashing, he multiplied the pressure several times over.
Chirp, chirp.
Only the occasional song of birds disturbed the profound silence of Iron Palm Peak. A warm spring breeze caressed the surroundings, exuding a serene atmosphere. Yet, beneath this tranquil facade, a battle capable of shaking the heavens and earth was unfolding in silence.
Ak Mu-ryeong unleashed an unfathomable, immense power, attempting to obliterate the boy’s ego. Bu Eunseol, with unwavering determination, fortified his spirit against the onslaught.
Pop.
A sound like a snapping twig resonated in the air.
Thick veins began to bulge on Bu Eunseol’s forehead. As Ak Mu-ryeong’s power relentlessly gnawed at him, a limit began to manifest in his mental fortitude. Hallucinations danced before his eyes; a torrent of strength drained from his limbs. Despair and futility, incomparable to physical pain, consumed him.
At that moment, Ak Mu-ryeong’s low voice pierced the haze.
“If half a gak more passes, you will become an idiot or a cripple.”
Coming from the dignified Wolf Fang Pavilion Master, it was no idle threat. But Bu Eunseol felt defiance rising like bile.
“Even if the Pavilion Master can ruin my body…”
Holding his head stiffly upright, Bu Eunseol looked straight into Ak Mu-ryeong’s burning eyes.
“You will not be able to destroy my mind.”
“Bwahahaha!”
Wild laughter burst from Ak Mu-ryeong’s mouth.
Kwa-bang!
As laughter that seemed to tear the sky poured out, a cataclysmic explosion detonated within Bu Eunseol’s head.
Splash.
Simultaneously, with the sensation of falling into an infinitely deep lake, the focus of his eyes vanished. The immense explosive power spreading through his spirit had pushed his ego into an inescapable abyss.
“To act arrogantly before this Pavilion Master.”
Bu Eunseol was the one whom all figures of the Wolf Fang Pavilion acknowledged as the orthodox successor. Yet, even as the boy fell into the abyss, losing his ego, there was no regret in Ak Mu-ryeong’s eyes.
—If you sharpen away the affection in your heart, what is there to be rough?
Suddenly, a strange voice whispered in the ears of Bu Eunseol as he plummeted into the infinite dark.
“…?”
Opening his mind’s eye, he was met with a vision of black flames, each one representing a dharma word from the Secret Art of Severing Emotions.
Secret Art of Severing Emotions…
He realized the terrifying potential of this knowledge. If he mastered it, he could perfectly control the True Knot of Will Manifestation. However, Bu Eunseol had deliberately suppressed this secret, fearing the cost of eliminating his own humanity. Yet, whenever his spirit wavered, that secret dharma seared itself into his consciousness like a branding iron.
If I sharpen away the affection in my heart…
He unconsciously recited the dharma. His ego, which had been plummeting into the abyss, found purchase. As hallucinations faded and distracting thoughts were incinerated, his body responded to the activation of the True Knot of Will Manifestation. Black flames flickered from his skin, a testament to the power awakening within.
And then, the impossible happened. The black fire began to push back the mental attack poured out by Ak Mu-ryeong.
“This is…”
Ak Mu-ryeong’s eyes widened as he saw the black true energy spiraling from Bu Eunseol’s body.
Kuurrrng!
In that instant, a powerful vibration shook the heavens and earth. Black true energy coursed through Bu Eunseol’s entire being, and his irises darkened into an abyssal shade. As he channeled the True Knot of Will Manifestation in response to the attack, the profound essence of the Secret Art of Severing Emotions etched itself deeper into his spirit.
“Sado Mu-myeong. It’s that bastard’s doing.”
Ak Mu-ryeong’s brow furrowed deep.
“He created another bizarre dharma deviating from common martial principles.”
A laugh rose on Ak Mu-ryeong’s lips as he instantly grasped the boy’s state.
“Hehehe. Hahahaha!”
As thunderous laughter echoed, the black true energy flowing from Bu Eunseol became thicker, more viscous.
“Sado Mu-myeong!”
Ak Mu-ryeong, realizing that the Divine Demonic Emperor’s martial arts essence resided in Bu Eunseol’s spirit, shouted toward the sky.
“Do you intend to unfold a duel once again over a disciple of this Pavilion!”
Immense energy poured out, crushing Bu Eunseol’s body.
Illusion upon Illusion.
The power he exerted was a peerless martial art that layered phantom upon phantom, creating tangible force from the formless mind.
Vooom!
Then, the black true energy wrapping Bu Eunseol’s body spread like tens of thousands of skeins of thread, offsetting the crushing pressure.
Bu Eunseol had defended against formless power with materialized true energy.
—This jewel-like peerless genius…
The voice of the Divine Demonic Emperor, Sado Mu-myeong, seemed to whisper in Ak Mu-ryeong’s head.
—…can you make him useless?
The Heart Mantra, a divine power inherent in Bu Eunseol’s body, could not be separated or extracted. Consequently, the Divine Demonic Emperor was proposing another duel with Ak Mu-ryeong. To eliminate that power, he had to strike Bu Eunseol dead.
—With your own hands.
If he were a normal martial artist, he would have hesitated to kill a disciple of his own sect.
“This duel… I accept!”
But Ak Mu-ryeong poured formless power into Bu Eunseol’s meridians without a shred of hesitation.