Yeop Hyo-cheon received the request in silence, a slow nod his only immediate response.
“You have already been formally appointed as a Second-Grade Combat Squad Captain of the Demonic Palace.” A faint, knowing smile touched his lips, as if he had anticipated this precise course of action. “Consequently, new quarters and a dedicated training ground have already been prepared for your unit.”
He rose from his seat, his presence filling the room. “Furthermore, twenty newly selected elite members will be assigned to the Deathly Shadow Squad immediately.”
Bu Eunseol could not mask his astonishment. Twenty was the exact number of reinforcements he had intended to request.
Did he predict this? Did he assume I would absorb Myo Cheon-woo and Yoo Woon-ryong?
A wry thought surfaced: perhaps the Divine Demonic Emperor possessed no prophetic sight nor the ability to peer into men’s hearts, but simply shared Bu Eunseol’s own cold, pragmatic logic.
“Then what should I do now?”
“Nothing.” Yeop Hyo-cheon smiled broadly. “Since matters have unfolded this way, you should rest while the other successors complete their missions.”
It was an unexpected command. As Bu Eunseol blinked in surprise, the elder’s smile softened into something paternal. “Whatever you choose to do during this time, there is no need to report it.”
“I understand.”
Gathering his thoughts, Bu Eunseol bowed deeply. To be granted respite in such turbulent times was a golden opportunity, one he intended to exploit to its fullest potential.
***
Two days later, the Deathly Shadow Squad’s new training ground buzzed with tension.
Twenty fresh-faced recruits stood in rigid formation. Their expressions were taut, betraying the nervousness of youth facing the unknown. Standing before them was Bu Eunseol, immaculate in his Squad Captain uniform, flanked by two figures in worn, humble martial attire: Myo Cheon-woo and Yoo Woon-ryong.
“Myo Cheon-woo, Yoo Woon-ryong.”
Bu Eunseol addressed them with solemn authority.
“From this moment, you are the Team Leaders of the Deathly Shadow Squad’s Fourth and Fifth Teams.”
“Team Leaders?” Yoo Woon-ryong blinked, caught off guard.
Bu Eunseol nodded firmly. “Train these members personally. Mold them into warriors capable of surviving the battlefield.”
Although Myo Cheon-woo and Yoo Woon-ryong had been integrated into the squad under the pretext of assisting him, they remained former Ten Demonic Successors. Their pedigree set them apart, creating an invisible barrier that made blending with ordinary members difficult. Bu Eunseol recognized that without a true anchor, they were adrift; assigning them direct subordinates would forge a sense of belonging through responsibility.
“Train them so they can survive and return from any hell they are sent to,” Bu Eunseol commanded, his voice grave. “Currently, the First Team specializes in sword arts, the Second in movement techniques and hidden weapons, and the Third in external martial arts.”
He turned his gaze to the two men. “Now, the Fourth Team will specialize in palm arts, and the Fifth in whip techniques. Since you are formally registered as Team Leaders, report to the Privy Council to register your names and receive your uniforms.”
“Bu Eunseol.” Myo Cheon-woo opened his mouth to protest.
Bu Eunseol feigned deafness. “Your quarters will be assigned separately. Make these recruits useful within two months.”
“Bu Eunseol!”
Myo Cheon-woo shouted again, but Bu Eunseol turned on his heel and walked away briskly, leaving his new Team Leaders staring at his retreating back.
“We’ve been properly reeled in.” As Myo Cheon-woo slumped his shoulders in defeat, Yoo Woon-ryong spoke with calm resignation. “Did you not expect this might happen?”
“Not at all. I knew it would.”
“If you knew, why did you call out to him so desperately?”
“Salary.”
Myo Cheon-woo looked down at his empty money pouch with deadly seriousness. “Just how much is the stipend for a Team Leader in the Demonic Palace?”
***
The solitude of his office offered a brief respite. Bu Eunseol pulled a tome from the shelf—the True Essence of Wolf Fang—and began to write.
It was a text he had begun some time ago but had been forced to abandon due to the press of duty. Even now, the disciples of the Wolf Fang Pavilion were likely suffering through the arduous process of learning the Way of the Beast. He needed to codify the secret to steadily raising their fundamental martial arts alongside the Way of the Beast to accelerate their growth.
If I can complete the True Essence of Wolf Fang during this free time, the respite will have been worthwhile.
Knock, knock.
At the sound, a man dressed in black martial attire entered and clasped his hands respectfully. “Su Hwa, disciple of the Soaring Shadow Pavilion, greets the Deathly Shadow Squad Captain.”
The Soaring Shadow Pavilion was the Demonic Palace’s top-secret intelligence unit, an organization so elite it recruited even former Ten Demonic Successors.
“What is the matter?”
“A message from the Wind and Cloud Squad.”
Now that I am a Second-Grade Combat Squad Captain, the Soaring Shadow Pavilion delivers messages personally.
It was the sweet taste of status. Humans were inevitably prone to addiction when it came to the authority that accompanied rank, but Bu Eunseol found he had little interest in such trappings.
“In the future, there is no need for this,” Bu Eunseol said calmly, taking the letter. “There are plenty of Team Leaders in my squad who can handle couriering.”
“…I understand.” Though Su Hwa looked puzzled, he bowed and retreated.
Bu Eunseol broke the seal and began to read. Silence filled the room, heavy and suffocating, until he finally lowered the paper.
“So it has come to this.”
A low groan vibrated in his throat. His expression hardening into granite, he left the office and made his way to the bamboo forest behind the quarters. In the clearing at its center, members of the First and Third Teams were gathered in a tight circle.
“In truth, the principle of ‘Strike Later, Control the Person’ is something you can only use effectively once you’ve reached a mature, peak realm.”
Hyeok So-jin stood at the front, interpreting martial principles for the rapt audience. “In other words, the most important thing in combat is seizing the initiative. To do that, a preemptive strike is essential.”
Whenever formal training concluded, Hyeok So-jin would remain behind to correct flaws and explain the nuances of martial arts to the Deathly Shadow Squad. Thanks to his tutelage, their insight and skills were sharpening daily.
Impressive.
This was not something Bu Eunseol had ordered. While teaching martial principles, Hyeok So-jin was simultaneously refining his own fundamental understanding. His skills were evolving in real-time, reaching a level comparable to any successor of the Ten Demonic Sects.
“So-jin.”
As Bu Eunseol approached, Hyeok So-jin paused his lecture and smiled brightly. “What brings you here?”
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
Noticing the gravity shadowing Bu Eunseol’s face, Hyeok So-jin felt a chill of premonition. “Is it related to the main branch?”
After a brief hesitation, Bu Eunseol nodded.
“The Illusion Demon has collapsed.”
Thump.
Hyeok So-jin’s heart plummeted. “Grandfather…”
“Do not worry. His life is not in danger; the reports say he simply overexerted himself.”
Hyeok So-jin paused, processing the information. “How did you know?”
Bu Eunseol offered a cryptic smile. “Do you think those old men supported me simply because I crafted a few coffins?”
“What do you mean?”
“I asked the Illusion Demon for a favor: to ensure I receive news of the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying Sect frequently through the Wind and Cloud Squad.”
Bu Eunseol had been monitoring the movements of the Peach Blossom Spring constantly. The demons of that sect supported him fully because they knew Bu Eunseol treated his promises like gold.
“I am sorry, Brother Bu.” Hyeok So-jin rubbed his forehead in shame. “I, the successor, was so lost in my journey through the Gangho that I forgot about home, yet you have been watching over the sect in my stead.”
“I merely kept my promise to the Illusion Demon.” Bu Eunseol’s voice was steady. “Unlike individual promises, covenants between sects are absolute. If they are broken, the survival of the sect is imperiled.”
If it were simply about keeping a promise, monitoring the general movements of the Peach Blossom Spring would have sufficed. Yet Bu Eunseol received detailed reports on all matters, large and small, specifically keeping Hyeok Gong-baek’s safety in mind. It was a consideration born purely of his regard for Hyeok So-jin.
“Thank you.”
Though he outwardly seemed indifferent, Bu Eunseol observed the people around him with meticulous care. Hyeok So-jin felt a surge of pride that such a man was his sworn brother.
“Now…” Bu Eunseol looked up at the distant sky. “It seems the time has come for you to return to the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying Sect.”
Hyeok So-jin lowered his head.
There is no feast that does not end, and every meeting implies an eventual parting. Once his journey ended, he had to return to manage his sect as the successor to the Illusion Demon. He had tried to ignore that inevitability simply because his journey with Bu Eunseol was enjoyable, but the reprieve was over.
Hyeok So-jin forced a smile. “I suppose so. The idling grandson is no more. I must follow in my grandfather’s footsteps.”
Nodding, Bu Eunseol spoke quietly. “It is late today. Depart early tomorrow.”
***
The next morning, the air was crisp as the squad assembled for the final farewell.
All members stood in formation in front of the training ground. They had gathered to bid farewell upon hearing the news of Hyeok So-jin’s departure.
“You’ve all heard, right?” Stepping forward, Hyeok So-jin smiled brightly. “This Deputy Squad Captain must now return to his home sect.”
Deep sighs rippled through the ranks. Even the eyes of Myo Cheon-woo and Yoo Woon-ryong held a trace of genuine regret.
If Bu Eunseol was the strict father of the squad, Hyeok So-jin had been the caring mother. Thanks to his presence—taking care of each member and approaching them without hesitation—the squad members, and even latecomers like Myo Cheon-woo, had integrated into a cohesive family.
“Follow the Squad Captain’s orders well, even without me.”
“Are you leaving for good?” At Wi Cheon-gyeong’s question, Hyeok So-jin wore a bittersweet smile.
“There is no such thing as ‘for good’. If our destinies align, we will meet again.”
“I see.” Wi Cheon-gyeong clasped his hands, his expression heavy. “Take care, Deputy Squad Captain.”
At that signal, the assembled members shouted in unison, bowing deeply.
“Take care! Deputy Squad Captain!”
Then, the formality broke as individual voices shouted parting words.
“If we miss you, we’ll just come to the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying Sect!”
“Do you give us food if we visit?”
“How about you just quit everything and stay in the Deathly Shadow Squad?”
These were men who had once lacked even basic camaraderie, let alone affection. But in a short time, sharing life-and-death missions, they had grown deeply fond of Hyeok So-jin.
“Improve your martial arts even further before I return,” Bu Eunseol said, stepping forward. “Especially the members of the Fourth and Fifth Teams—I will personally inspect your martial prowess when I get back.”
“Wait, Squad Captain, are you going somewhere too?” Won Se-mun asked.
Bu Eunseol smiled faintly. “We started together, so naturally, we should end it together.”
Something hot surged in the chests of the squad members.
We started together, so naturally, we should end it together.
It sounded like a vow Bu Eunseol was making to them, the Deathly Shadow Squad, as well.
Hyeok So-jin felt his chest tighten. Since this journey through the Gangho began with Bu Eunseol, it was only right to finish it together.
“Indeed. Since we started it, it is right to finish it together.”
As Hyeok So-jin laughed, Myo Cheon-woo, who had been standing silently, stepped forward, arms crossed and expression serious.
“If you’re going, request an escort from the Demonic Palace. Isn’t the entire Murim watching you because you killed the Beggar King? Going out with just the two of you now… every piece of trash out there will try to take a bite.”
“That is correct,” Bu Eunseol agreed. “That is why I am accompanying him.”
Realization struck Hyeok So-jin. “Brother Bu. Don’t tell me…”
“Through this journey, you will gain the foundation to become an excellent successor,” Bu Eunseol said calmly. “That was my final promise to the Illusion Demon.”
The Illusion Demon had asked Bu Eunseol to awaken Hyeok So-jin’s sleeping passion and martial soul. Bu Eunseol had done more than that—he had raised Hyeok So-jin into a powerful warrior worthy of his heritage. But even that wasn’t enough. Bu Eunseol intended to demonstrate his elevated martial prowess to spur Hyeok So-jin’s growth one last time. He would pass on the great enlightenment he had gained from fighting the Beggar King.
“Then I’m going too,” Yoo Woon-ryong interjected. “I can’t miss out on a fight.”
“Me too, then.”
As Myo Cheon-woo joined in, Bu Eunseol shook his head. “No.”
“Why? I want to become stronger by watching you fight too.”
“That is exactly why you cannot come.”
When Myo Cheon-woo revealed his honest desire, Bu Eunseol offered a logical explanation. “Both of you have reached the mature stages of the Transcendence Realm. But you have never taught martial arts to others.”
Myo Cheon-woo let out a sound of realization, recalling how Hyeok So-jin’s martial progress had surged unexpectedly while teaching the squad.
“Correct. To rapidly develop your martial progress at your level, teaching others will be the fastest path.”
Myo Cheon-woo and Yoo Woon-ryong exchanged surprised glances.
He didn’t assign members just to work us to the bone?
In truth, they had harbored a desire to teach, but the existing members practiced specialized arts taught by Bu Eunseol, leaving no room for their input. Now that new recruits had arrived, they could transmit their own insights and fundamentals. Realizing Bu Eunseol’s consideration for their growth, a sense of loyalty they hadn’t felt before took root.
“Understood. We will do so,” Myo Cheon-woo said, his tone shifting. “Don’t worry and go.”
Jo Nam-cheon shouted with a laugh. “That’s right. Don’t worry and go, Squad Captain. We will devote ourselves to training in the meantime.”
“That’s right. Go without worry!”
As the members chimed in, Bu Eunseol nodded. “Devote yourselves until I return.”
“Yes, sir!”
As the members bowed simultaneously, Bu Eunseol looked down at them calmly. Now, for the sake of Hyeok So-jin, who had to protect the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying Sect, he would embark on their final journey.