Gu Dong-ak blocked Bu Eunseol’s path, his voice booming like thunder.
“Bu Eunseol! Do you think you can simply walk away after daring to brutally slaughter a master of the Martial Righteous Alliance?”
“Slaughter?”
Bu Eunseol wore an expression of genuine bewilderment.
“How can defending oneself against an unprovoked attack from someone intent on killing be called slaughter?”
“What nonsense is that?”
“I avoided conflict with that man. Yet he ambushed me from behind.”
Gu Dong-ak fell silent, unable to find immediate words.
“Is that, too, a crime?”
Bu Eunseol pointed calmly at the surrounding spectators.
“If you believe it to be a crime, then strike me down immediately. This will be an excellent opportunity to let the world know of the Martial Righteous Alliance’s arrogance.”
Noticing the gazes pouring in from all directions, Gu Dong-ak’s expression froze.
‘He induced this situation on purpose!’
In truth, Jo Bi-woon’s sword wind had been merely a feint to stop the retreating Bu Eunseol. However, the ordinary civilians watching nearby possessed no ability to distinguish such nuance.
‘This cunning bastard!’
Gu Dong-ak bit his lip. Only then did he realize that all of Bu Eunseol’s actions had been a calculated ploy to kill Jo Bi-woon.
“Can you handle the consequences?”
Regardless of everything, Jo Bi-woon was the only son of Jo Cheon-wang, the Captain of the Martial Heavens Corps. In short, Bu Eunseol had forged an unbreakable grudge with a Captain of the Seven Great Combat Corps, a pillar of the Martial Righteous Alliance.
“I asked if you can handle the consequences of murdering Corps Captain Jo’s flesh and blood!”
“The consequences are for the Martial Righteous Alliance to bear.”
“What?”
“Unless, of course, the Martial Righteous Alliance specializes in teaching its members to strike from behind.”
At Bu Eunseol’s smirk, Gu Dong-ak’s expression hardened once again.
‘Damn it…’
There was no room for rebuttal.
Jo Bi-woon had launched a rear ambush, a taboo even in the Righteous Factions. No matter how passionately he argued that it was actually a feint, there was no way to prove it. Instead, it was obvious that only the eyewitness accounts of the civilians—claiming Bu Eunseol was attacked from behind—would spread.
“If we are assigning responsibility for the start of this incident, you yourself are not free from blame.”
At Bu Eunseol’s cutting words, Gu Dong-ak could say nothing.
He had a responsibility to stop Jo Bi-woon’s arrogance. But trusting in the prestige of the Martial Righteous Alliance, he had merely watched Jo Bi-woon’s reckless actions, thinking, ‘Surely he wouldn’t dare kill the only son of the Martial Heavens Corps Captain?’
“Ugh.”
Gu Dong-ak bit his lip until it bled.
Even if the Martial Righteous Alliance Leader himself were here, he could not argue against Bu Eunseol. In fact, if responsibility were to be assigned, Gu Dong-ak would be the first to face punishment.
“Let’s go!”
Trembling with rage, he ordered his subordinates to collect Jo Bi-woon’s corpse and left the scene immediately.
***
Bu Eunseol’s actions once again became a massive topic of conversation in the Murim.
Killing the only son of the Martial Heavens Corps Captain of the Martial Righteous Alliance with a single stroke?
Yet even in this situation, the Martial Righteous Alliance could take no action. The arrogant Jo Bi-woon had committed an act that a martial artist should never do. If fault were to be assigned properly, Escort Leader Gu Dong-ak was the one who deserved punishment.
—A true madman.
Bu Eunseol: disciple of the Wolf Fang Pavilion and successor candidate for the Demonic Palace.
While the Righteous Factions called him the Luck King, some in the streets began to call him the Mad Sword.
Mad Sword.
Rumors were spreading that he was not only exceptionally skilled among the rising stars but also a lunatic who knew no fear.
“There are no longer people rushing in to take a bite out of you.”
Drinking in an inn near Runan after passing Yellow Creek, Hyeok So-jin looked disappointed.
After the death of Jo Bi-woon, no one dared to pick a fight with Bu Eunseol. Rumors had spread far and wide that challenging him meant putting one’s life on the line.
“Moreover, only increasingly bizarre nicknames keep getting attached to you.”
Bu Eunseol remained silent.
“The Luck King was coined by those beggar bastards, so let’s leave that aside. But what is this Mad Sword nonsense? Mad Sword?”
Thud.
Slamming his wine bottle down, Hyeok So-jin looked aggrieved on Bu Eunseol’s behalf.
“A nickname like Sword King or something similar would suit Brother Bu much better.”
Despite Hyeok So-jin’s passionate speech, Bu Eunseol merely stared out the window with an impassive face.
“Do you not feel wronged, Brother Bu?”
Clink.
Setting down his cup, Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“It does not matter.”
He truly didn’t care.
Let alone a nickname, even if he didn’t ascend to the seat of the Four Gods and Seven Kings, he would have no lingering regrets. His goal had never been honor or power.
“I know well that you don’t care about things like honor or fame, but still, you are human too…”
As Hyeok So-jin’s grumbling continued, Bu Eunseol spoke slowly.
“Fame and honor are nothing more than nametags attached by others.”
“Well… that is true.”
It was correct. Even the title of the Four Gods and Seven Kings—was it not a name given by others, not something they created themselves?
Fame was like patina that naturally accumulated as one built skill. Obsessing over it could actually lead one to fall into a lower realm of mindset.
“Furthermore, fame is not necessarily beneficial for a martial artist.”
Draining his cup again, Bu Eunseol spoke in a low voice.
“The more your name is on people’s lips, the more your specialties, techniques, and even your appearance become widely known. Sometimes the name alone is enough to rouse an opponent’s vigilance.”
“I suppose that makes sense.”
Chewing on Bu Eunseol’s words, Hyeok So-jin suddenly let out a hollow laugh.
“You are truly amazing, Brother Bu. There is barely an age difference between us, yet it feels as though there are decades of difference in experience and wisdom.”
Looking at the distant sky, he sighed.
“When will I ever become like that?”
His voice held more fear than envy.
Hyeok So-jin would soon have to become the leader guiding all members of the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying Sect. To lead a sect, one needed not only martial arts but also wise and cool-headed judgment. Leadership to stand at the forefront and qualities to command loyalty were essential.
Hyeok So-jin was suffering from the belief that he possessed neither the ability nor the qualification.
“Perhaps the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying needs an outstanding figure other than myself.”
“That is a wrong thought.”
As Hyeok So-jin hunched his shoulders, Bu Eunseol spoke with a firm expression.
“Being a leader does not necessarily mean you must be wiser or more outstanding than others. If that were the case, the heads of all Murim sects would be geniuses.”
“Is… is that so?”
“The characteristic of sect leaders is not that they are personally outstanding, but that they are good at placing the right people in the right places. That is why one can lead a sect even without being wise oneself.”
Taking another sip of wine, he spoke in a low voice.
“Dividing the Deathly Shadow Squad was the same. They each have different talents, specialties, and strong personalities. But simply by the Team Leaders guiding their members well, it became an excellent squad.”
Bu Eunseol stared intently at Hyeok So-jin.
“And all of this is what you have been doing until now.”
Only then did Hyeok So-jin realize.
He had constantly faced powerful enemies alongside Bu Eunseol, led and commanded numerous allies, and executed tactics. Though he hadn’t realized it, all the journeys and experiences until now were engraved in his body.
“Thank you. For enlightening me once again.”
Hyeok So-jin stood up and clasped his hands.
“And I will certainly lead the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying on the right path.”
***
Bu Eunseol and Hyeok So-jin hastened their journey again.
The carriage ran tirelessly, arriving near Lanzhou before they knew it. Just another day and a half, and they would arrive at the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying.
“M-My Lord.”
Just then, the flustered voice of the coachman came from outside.
“I think you need to come out for a moment.”
When Bu Eunseol stepped out of the carriage, he saw about a hundred martial artists standing in solemn formation on the plain opposite them. Heightening his vision, Bu Eunseol smiled faintly.
“The Bloody Ocean, Fiendish Pit.”
The attire of the martial artists was exactly the same as the masters of the Bloody Ocean, Fiendish Pit—the Wicked Land of Murim that had persecuted Ouyang Cheong-jeong in the past.
“Bu Eunseol.”
At the very front of the formation, a hideously ugly middle-aged man walked forward.
It was Go Geuk-sin, the Poison Hand Nocturnal Soul and Third Hall Master of the Bloody Ocean, Fiendish Pit.
“You remember this Hall Master, I presume?”
He was a cruel demon with a violent temper who crushed skulls like dry stalks with his Nocturnal Soul-Seizing Bone Claw even after killing his enemies.
Yet Bu Eunseol smiled warmly at Go Geuk-sin, as if meeting an old friend.
“It has been a long time. So, have you visited my Pavilion?”
Go Geuk-sin ground his teeth.
In the past, when he tried to kidnap Ouyang Cheong-jeong, he had publicly declared that he would exterminate the sect of the interfering Bu Eunseol first. Although he had said it without knowing it was the Wolf Fang Pavilion, it had become a humiliating memory he would never forget.
“Your snout is as consistent as ever.”
He spoke with a voice dripping with killing intent.
“Every single word still manages to twist my guts.”
“You surely didn’t come just to see if my snout is still intact.”
Bu Eunseol continued the banter, speaking at length, which was unlike him.
“Or are you now on your way to exterminate the Demonic Palace, to which this Squad Captain belongs?”
Bu Eunseol was now a Squad Captain of the Demonic Palace. Touching him without reason was no different from touching the Demonic Palace itself.
“Hmph. Putting forward the name of the Demonic Palace is useless.”
Go Geuk-sin laughed triumphantly.
“Because this falls under the category of the successor battle anyway.”
“Successor battle, you say.”
Bu Eunseol nodded with interested eyes.
“Strange. Since when did the Bloody Ocean, Fiendish Pit become one of the Ten Demonic Sects?”
Stroking his chin, Bu Eunseol’s eyes flashed.
“Or is there another successor candidate I don’t know about?”
Go Geuk-sin flinched for a moment but maintained his insidious smile.
“Think whatever you want. You will die anyway.”
Judging by how boldly they brought the forces of the Bloody Ocean, Fiendish Pit, it seemed certain they had colluded with one of the Demonic Palace’s successor candidates. If they tried to slaughter a Demonic Palace successor candidate at will, the sect known as the Bloody Ocean, Fiendish Pit would be erased from the Murim immediately.
“You’ve become far too arrogant.”
At that moment, Hyeok So-jin spoke with a voice as cold as ice.
“The devil spawn of the Bloody Ocean, Fiendish Pit dare to enter the territory of my sect and act so foolishly?”
At that, Go Geuk-sin curled his lip.
“I told you. This is a fight between successor candidates.”
He spoke in a sinister voice.
“Even if the masters of the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying swarm in, they will not be able to intervene in this fight.”
“The explanation is sufficient, so just come at me. I have a long way to go.”
“Hehehe. I know well that you have quite formidable skills. And that you luckily killed the Beggar King.”
Go Geuk-sin bared his fangs in a grin.
“But this time will be different.”
Bu Eunseol yawned. It wasn’t intentional; he was simply getting bored of Go Geuk-sin’s chatter.
“What exactly is different?”
When Bu Eunseol asked while yawning, sparks flew in Go Geuk-sin’s eyes.
“You must have heard of our pit’s Cold-Blooded Demons!”
“Cold-Blooded Demons?”
At those words, Hyeok So-jin’s eyes changed. Only then did he discover that the martial artists standing behind Go Geuk-sin all had eyes as murky as the dead.
“Brother Bu. It seems they really brought the Cold-Blooded Demons.”
Demonic sects, which find it difficult to produce outstanding martial artists in large numbers, sometimes create combat forces through special secret prescriptions and training.
The Bloody Ocean, Fiendish Pit also used such methods to raise a large-scale force: the Cold-Blooded Demons. They were forced to consume special drugs to eliminate fear. Furthermore, the martial arts they learned were designed to sacrifice their own lives without hesitation if it meant cutting the enemy’s throat.
It was said that the reason the Bloody Ocean, Fiendish Pit was called a Wicked Land of Murim and became synonymous with terror was precisely because of these Cold-Blooded Demons.
“This will be a difficult fight.”
Riiiip.
Hyeok So-jin pulled the Steel Rope Blood Thread from his left wrist.
Stepping in front of Bu Eunseol, he said, “I will take the lead.”
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“There is no need for you to step forward.”
“What?”
“I suppose I should show you at least once.”
In an instant, Bu Eunseol’s eyes glowed red like burning charcoal.
“Watch closely. Where the step you must climb to lies.”
He walked past Hyeok So-jin, striding toward Go Geuk-sin.
Hyeok So-jin’s eyes widened.
He knew Bu Eunseol’s martial arts had advanced greatly, but their numbers were over a hundred. Moreover, they were Cold-Blooded Demons who felt no fear or pain and attacked with the resolve to perish together.
Even for Bu Eunseol, this was a level impossible to handle alone.
‘Could it be that Brother Bu has reached the Ultimate Transcendence Reaching the Origin?’
No matter how many hundreds of gnats combine their strength, they cannot bring down a single lion. Similarly, the level where even a vast number of people combining forces cannot defeat a single outstanding master is called Ultimate Transcendence Reaching the Origin.
Step, step.
Bu Eunseol walked slowly toward the hundred Cold-Blooded Demons as if taking a stroll.
With every dignified and heavy step he took, his presence seemed to grow until it touched the sky.
“Strike!”
With Go Geuk-sin’s shout, the hundred Cold-Blooded Demons threw themselves at Bu Eunseol.