The leader of the assassins stood frozen, a statue carved from fear.
Sweat slicked his forehead, cold and heavy like rain, while his gaze remained glued to the carnage at his feet. He trembled, a prey animal cornered by a predator that defied nature. Around him lay the ruin of his squad—scattered fragments of bone and bloody pulp, the grisly remains of over a hundred men obliterated by Bu Eunseol’s fist force.
This man is… a grim reaper.
The image of Bu Eunseol’s martial prowess burned in the leader’s mind. He was a blazing fire, and the hundred assassins had been nothing more than dry straw. Every rush, every coordinated attack had ended in vain, lives extinguished in a spray of fluids and flesh.
No one could stop a single punch.
“…Who are you?”
Whoosh.
Bu Eunseol did not answer. He simply reached out.
The powerful Void-Grasping Art erupted, shredding the fabric at the leader’s chest.
Thud.
A small wooden box flew across the gap, slapping into Eunseol’s palm as if magnetized. Fresh terror flooded the assassin’s eyes.
Such martial prowess at that age.
Only after witnessing the sheer dominance of the Void-Grasping Art did he realize the truth: Bu Eunseol was not merely strong. He was a supreme master looking down upon the Murim.
“The mastermind.”
It was the voice of a reaper waiting for a name to write in his book.
The assassin spoke, his voice shaking. “If I tell you… can I live?”
Blood-red light flickered in Bu Eunseol’s eyes. “I will permit you to commit suicide.”
Strange words. To offer death as a mercy.
But the leader understood. Severing his own meridians would be futile. Biting the poison pill would be too slow. The reflexes of a master in the Supreme Realm surpassed ordinary logic. If he lied, or if he stalled, this monster would leave him in a state where he could neither live nor die.
“I was too greedy.”
Surrendering his will to live, the assassin lowered his head.
“Dan-ri Muk. Deputy Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall.” The confession continued in a hush. “He planned all of this. To kill Jong-jeong Yak, the Law Enforcement Junior Commander investigating him.”
“And you?”
“Moon Shadow Sect. An assassin sect contracted with the Martial Righteous Alliance for a long time.”
Bu Eunseol nodded. It was a sufficient answer. He turned his back.
Thud.
The leader of the assassins collapsed like a felled log, finally feeling safe enough to bite the poison pill.
Step. Step.
Bu Eunseol looked down at Neung Jo-un, who lay unconscious, his sleep point struck. To Eunseol, the man was an immature brat ignorant of the ways of the world, yet he possessed a stubborn loyalty and a sense of justice that was hard to despise.
Smirk.
Smiling faintly, Bu Eunseol hoisted the man over one shoulder and vanished from the Song Clan Manor.
Whirrr.
Unfolding a movement technique swift as a gale, he returned to the forest where he had left Jong-jeong Yak.
“Adjutant Neung!”
Jong-jeong Yak rose from her prayers, rushing toward them the moment she spotted Eunseol and his burden.
“You are safe! Both of you.”
Eunseol ignored the pleasantries, retrieving the wooden box from his bosom and holding it out.
“The Violet Essence Elixirs.”
“This is… how?”
Jong-jeong Yak’s eyes went wide.
“The mastermind is the Deputy Hall Master, Dan-ri Muk,” Bu Eunseol stated calmly. “He planned to kill you using the elixirs as bait.”
“Deputy Hall Master… Dan-ri planned this?”
Her jaw dropped. How on earth had Bu Eunseol uncovered the truth, retrieved the stolen goods, and rescued Neung Jo-un so quickly?
“Who on earth are you?”
It was a fundamental doubt. What he had accomplished was impossible for a High-Grade Wandering Vagrant, regardless of how fast his movement techniques were.
I guess it won’t work.
Bu Eunseol pondered for a moment. If he didn’t resolve her doubts now, she wouldn’t trust him. Without trust, his entry into the Martial Righteous Alliance would be restricted.
I have no choice.
“I am a Special-Grade Wandering Vagrant of the Silent Heaven, Desolate Earth.”
“Spe—Special-Grade Wandering Vagrant?”
“That is so.”
Jong-jeong Yak was stunned. Even in the Silent Heaven, Desolate Earth—the largest mercenary market in Shaanxi—there were fewer than ten Special-Grade Vagrants. These were individuals who commanded tens of thousands of nyang for a single request.
If he is Special-Grade, it means he has entered the threshold of the Supreme Realm.
She could now somewhat understand the mysterious prowess he had displayed.
“How did you, a Special-Grade Wandering Vagrant, become a High-Grade Wandering Vagrant to take this request?” Her voice was thick with suspicion.
Bu Eunseol feigned a sigh. “I received a private request from Lady Dam.”
“Sister Dam?”
“That is so. She asked me to help you but keep the matter secret. She feared you would feel burdened if you knew the truth.”
Realization dawned in Jong-jeong Yak’s eyes. “Then did Sister Dam pay you separately?”
“That is so.”
“How much…”
“One hundred thousand nyang.”
“What?”
She looked ready to faint. Bu Eunseol added quickly, “Just the down payment.”
Jong-jeong Yak’s face flushed red. “Just the down payment was one hundred thousand? Then what about the success fee?”
“I agreed to receive another one hundred thousand nyang separately.”
She bowed her head, overwhelmed. That Dam Yu-yeon would willingly spend two hundred thousand nyang for her sake…
“I really didn’t know…”
“Do not mind it. I only need to receive the money.”
“It’s not about that!” Jong-jeong Yak cried out, appalled. “Two hundred thousand for something like this? It’s too much! Don’t demand any more money from Sister Dam.”
“Put that way, I sound like a swindler who extorted money without doing any work.”
“You know well I don’t mean that.”
“Not at all. I do not know.”
As Bu Eunseol acted stiffly, Jong-jeong Yak made a decision. “Fine. I will give you the success fee. So don’t ask for another penny from Sister Dam.”
Bu Eunseol smirked. “Do you have one hundred thousand nyang?”
“Not right now, but if I solve this case…” She stammered, turning her red face away. “Please give me a discount.”
“How much.”
“Tw-twenty thousand nyang.”
“You want a discount of twenty thousand?”
“N-no. Can’t I just pay… twenty thousand nyang total?”
At her childish haggle, Bu Eunseol spoke firmly. “I will pretend I didn’t hear that.”
Turning around, he immediately released Neung Jo-un’s sealed acupoints.
“Ugh!”
Neung Jo-un woke with a shout, scrambling to look around. “What happened? Why am I here?”
“Well…”
While treating his wounds, Jong-jeong Yak roughly explained the situation: the recovery of the Violet Essence Elixirs and the treachery of Deputy Hall Master Dan-ri Muk.
“Special-Grade Wandering Vagrant?”
Neung Jo-un was shocked, though for a different reason. The man he had dismissed as an arrogant, shabby vagrant was actually elite? The arrogance in Jo-un’s gaze vanished, replaced by a burning hostility—the misguided jealousy of a young man afraid his secret crush might be stolen by a more capable rival.
“Well, even if you are a Special-Grade Wandering Vagrant, nothing changes… sir.” Despite the honorific, Neung Jo-un looked disheartened. “After all, you are just a vagrant contracted with the Junior Commander.”
“I know.”
Jong-jeong Yak sighed, looking up at the distant sky. “Then, what do we do now? We retrieved the elixirs and identified the mastermind, but we lack the evidence to prove the corruption.”
Neung Jo-un’s face darkened. If they returned to the Martial Righteous Alliance now, knowing Dan-ri Muk was guilty but unable to arrest him, they would only face frustration.
“Ah! There is a way!” Jong-jeong Yak’s eyes shone. “Young Hero Seol heard the confession directly, right?”
“So?”
“I will ask to open the Ten Righteousness Conference.”
The Ten Righteousness Conference was a tribunal convened to investigate corruption involving a Hall Master-level figure. If the meeting was held and the resolution passed, the Inspection Hall would begin an intense probe. Dan-ri Muk would be trapped.
“But without hard evidence, how will you pass the agenda?” Neung Jo-un asked. “The opponent is the Deputy Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall. He has the power to drop a flying bird.”
“We don’t need clear evidence. Just casting suspicion will make the Inspection Hall move.” Jong-jeong Yak’s voice grew powerful. “Young Hero Seol is a formal vagrant registered at the Silent Heaven, Desolate Earth. If they consider his testimony credible… the Inspection Hall will investigate Deputy Hall Master Dan-ri.”
“Indeed, that is true.” Neung Jo-un nodded, then hesitated. “But wouldn’t it be too dangerous?”
“Why?”
“The Deputy Hall Master will try to kill him. He will plot anything to silence a witness.”
“Mmm.” Jong-jeong Yak groaned.
Even if he was a Special-Grade Wandering Vagrant, there were countless masters surpassing him within the Alliance. Moreover, this danger was not in the contract. She couldn’t force him.
“Young Hero Seol.”
Refusing to lose hope, she looked at him. “Please help. Only your testimony can refer him to the Ten Righteousness Conference.”
Bu Eunseol didn’t answer immediately. In truth, entering the Martial Righteous Alliance naturally was exactly what he wanted. However, accepting too readily would arouse suspicion. As a Law Enforcement Junior Commander, she was trained to spot inconsistencies.
“Young Hero Seol.”
When he remained silent, she pleaded again.
“A high-ranking official is embezzling spiritual elixirs and manipulating assassins. If we leave him be, he will cause great harm to the Murim.”
“I am a wandering vagrant.”
“Pardon?”
“It means the circumstances of the Murim have nothing to do with me.”
Speechless, Jong-jeong Yak tried a different angle. “Didn’t the contract include escorting me to the Alliance? Can’t you think of this as an extension?”
Still no reaction.
She began to leverage her connections. “Sister Dam and I are very close. I will speak well of you to her. And having a Law Enforcement Junior Commander owe you a debt won’t be a bad thing.”
Bu Eunseol stared intently at her. “If you want me to help, make a new contract.”
“Contract?”
“That is so. The original contract ended upon entering the Alliance.”
“So… you are demanding money to testify?”
“Money sounds crude. I want a success fee.”
She felt a mix of absurdity and relief. It was natural for a vagrant to want money; had he shouted about justice, it would have been suspicious.
Was it needless worry?
She hadn’t fully trusted him. Finding a vagrant at the Silent Heaven, Desolate Earth was a public move; intelligence organizations could have planted anyone. But greed was a trustworthy motivation for a mercenary.
“How much?”
“Two hundred thousand nyang.”
Bu Eunseol spoke calmly. “I called it cheap because it is an additional contract.”
“Even if I sell everything I own, two hundred thousand is impossible.”
“Then it won’t work.”
Bu Eunseol turned away cold-heartedly.
“Do you only accept cash?”
Bu Eunseol paused. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, don’t you accept goods?” She smiled, pointing to the wooden box. “Wouldn’t half of the spiritual elixirs—which sell for five hundred thousand nyang at auction—be sufficient payment?”
“Junior Commander!” Neung Jo-un exclaimed.
“It’s fine. Without him, retrieving them would have been impossible.”
Bu Eunseol blinked, feigning surprise. “Are you saying the Law Enforcement Junior Commander will embezzle the Violet Essence Elixirs?”
“Embezzle is harsh. I mean to use half of these elixirs to catch the person making our Alliance rot.”
Indeed.
Bu Eunseol smiled inwardly. Nine Assassination Squad Captain So Ja-myeong was right. Jong-jeong Yak shouted justice, but she was captured by the desire for success.
“Junior Commander. Even so, this is…”
“Good.”
Bu Eunseol nodded coolly, cutting off Neung Jo-un’s protest. “If you give me half the Violet Essence Elixirs, I will testify.”
***
Entering the Martial Righteous Alliance in Changde Prefecture, Henan, was deceptively simple compared to the Demonic Palace.
One only needed to state the purpose of the visit and sign the guestbook. Whether Orthodox, Demonic, or Unorthodox Path, anyone could enter.
It was a display of confidence.
Even if someone with impure purposes entered, they could never cause harm within these walls. The Alliance was a dragon’s pool and a tiger’s den, housing far more supreme masters than the Demonic Palace. Because the strongest of the Orthodox Path settled here, they could keep the gates wide open.
But there was a trap.
It was easy to enter, but difficult to leave. Once inside, visitors were thoroughly monitored.
“You have returned.”
The guard recognized Jong-jeong Yak and Neung Jo-un, bowing respectfully. But seeing Bu Eunseol in grey martial attire, he tilted his head. “Who is that person?”
Normally, Jong-jeong Yak would have created a fake identity. Today, she spoke confidently.
“A witness who will give important testimony at the Ten Righteousness Conference.”
“Ten Righteousness Conference, you say?” The guard’s jaw dropped. A meeting to punish a Hall Master?
“Yes.”
She smiled, intending to spread the rumor in advance to prevent Dan-ri Muk from covering it up.
“P-Please enter.”
The group walked in. The Alliance provided accommodation divided into three tiers: General, Guest, and Distinguished Guest.
“Please use this place for the time being.”
However, the room assigned to Bu Eunseol was neither of those. It was Neung Jo-un’s quarters.
“Since we don’t know what Deputy Hall Master Dan-ri Muk might do, please stay with Adjutant Neung.”
Ignoring Neung Jo-un’s despairing expression, she pointed to a room. “It will take a few days for the meeting to open.”
So she doesn’t trust me yet.
It was likely for his safety, but also for surveillance. To catch a Deputy Hall Master, she couldn’t rely solely on the word of a vagrant. She intended to investigate both Dan-ri Muk and Bu Eunseol thoroughly.
“Understood.”
Bu Eunseol agreed readily.
No matter how much they investigate, nothing will come out.
The identity ‘Seol So’ had been created long ago and was watertight.
“Since it is late, please rest.”
As Jong-jeong Yak left, Neung Jo-un stretched and yawned. “I will rest a bit too. You rest comfortably.”
Having given up his bed, Neung Jo-un lay on the chair in the reception room. “I can just sleep here.”
“Understood.”
Entering the room, Bu Eunseol closed his eyes.
Time passed. Around the third watch, Bu Eunseol’s eyes snapped open.
He is not sleeping.
Neung Jo-un was feigning sleep, his consciousness directed outward.
Approaching the door soundlessly, Bu Eunseol slipped his finger through the crack. If he used a finger wind to seal the acupoint, the sound and impact would alert the target. Therefore, he chose the True Knot of Will Manifestation.
Woooong.
Drawing up internal energy, a thread-thin stream of true energy flowed from his finger.
Slither.
The energy moved like a living creature, pressing deep into the Sleep Point of the lying man.
Snore.
Neung Jo-un’s breathing deepened instantly. Exhausted from the forced march and the mental strain of monitoring, he fell into a comatose slumber.
“Hmph.”
Before leaving, Bu Eunseol stuffed a pillowcase into his bosom. It would serve as a crude mask if needed.
Let’s search nearby places first.
Slipping out into the shadows, he scanned the area. If the Alliance was connected to Evil Fragrance, there would be warehouses storing hidden weapons or documents.
He intended to find them.