Myo Cheon-woo stood shoulder to shoulder with Won Se-mun and Jo Nam-cheon, their bodies trembling with righteous—if misplaced—fury.
It was evident that Yeon So-ha’s words had captivated them completely. While their reaction was understandable, Yeon So-ha’s eyes and voice exuded an otherworldly presence that transcended mere mortal beauty. Her demeanor radiated a nobility akin to a celestial being descended from the heavens. Even if she were to make extraordinary claims, such as the sun rising in the west or lotuses blooming in a furnace, it would be challenging to discern any trace of deceit in her expression.
Squad Captain Yoo.
Wi Cheon-gyeong spoke via telepathy, his voice low and reasoned.
How about I explain the full story to His Lordship first? If we send her back like this, I worry it might tarnish His Lordship’s reputation.
Fortunately, Wi Cheon-gyeong, like Yoo Woon-ryong, maintained a heart that was not easily swayed by tears or beauty.
That makes sense.
“Young Palace Mistress. Since you’ve come a long way, please have some tea first.” Yoo Woon-ryong, quickly fixing his expression into a mask of polite neutrality, addressed Yeon So-ha and her retinue. “I will find out immediately when His Lordship will return.”
***
The Office of the Martial Soul Decree Master.
Bu Eunseol’s brush moved across the parchment with frantic speed, composing one letter after another.
The annihilation of the Five Poisons Sect had sent shockwaves not only through the Way of the Demonic but across the entire Murim. The revelation that the disappearances of children throughout the Central Plains were linked to this clandestine sect had forced the hands of the major powers.
Consequently, an unusual phenomenon was occurring: various Orthodox sects, including the Martial Righteous Alliance, the Unorthodox Path, and even the Unorthodox faction, were reaching out to the Demonic Palace to seek collaboration. This was a rare unification of the martial world, driven solely by the exceptional actions of its outstanding successor, Bu Eunseol.
Knock, knock.
A familiar voice accompanied the sound on the door.
“It is Yoo Woon-ryong.”
“Come in.”
Yoo Woon-ryong entered, his face shadowed with complication. Seeing this, Bu Eunseol let out a weary sigh, guessing the situation without needing to ask.
“Why couldn’t you send her back?”
“All the Squad Captains, including Myo Cheon-woo, were in my office.”
“Hmm.”
Bu Eunseol groaned. That was a variable he hadn’t predicted. He had hoped Yoo Woon-ryong would handle the matter quietly, but for his subordinate Squad Captains to be gathered in the administration office at that exact moment was sheer misfortune.
“I have no choice.”
In truth, avoiding the issue would solve nothing. Yet, Bu Eunseol had no time to spare for this ‘fiancée-finding commotion.’ He had exposed the Five Poisons Sect, a faction that secret forces had been cultivating for decades, and destroyed it in a single stroke. Whoever was behind them would not let this slide.
I hoped it would pass quietly.
But since Yeon So-ha had come seeking him, drawn by the rumors, he could no longer sit still. Moreover, he needed to understand how she had seen through his identity.
“Understood. I will go.”
Sighing, Bu Eunseol rose from his seat.
***
Crimson Flower Pavilion.
This was the name of the pavilion nestled within the inner garden of the Stealth Demons Pavilion. Walking along the path where rare flowers and exotic grasses bloomed, one would find a beautiful pond spanned by a small bridge. Beside it stood the Crimson Flower Pavilion, designed for sunny days, tea, and quiet contemplation.
When Bu Eunseol arrived, a woman in white was standing on the small bridge, looking up at the sky.
She was dazzling.
Her hair cascaded like black silk caught in a breeze, holding a hint of sun-kissed light, while her dark eyes seemed to contain the clarity of the entire world. Below a sharp, elegant nose, pale pink lips parted slightly to reveal neat teeth. It was a beauty that men painted in their dreams.
It was Yeon So-ha.
“It’s been a while, Young Lady Yeon.”
As Bu Eunseol approached, she turned her gaze from the empty air to him.
“Young Hero Bu.”
A misty moisture rose in her large eyes. Love, hatred, resentment, and longing—Yeon So-ha conveyed a storm of emotions with a single glance.
“No… I should call you Lord now.”
Ashamed, Bu Eunseol averted his gaze toward the pond.
When he had lived as a wandering vagrant under the name Seol So, he had been impatient to compete with Jeong Cheon. In his haste, he had rashly undertaken the mission to steal the Primordial-Preserving Divine Pearl without proper intelligence. He had barely escaped by exploiting the disapproval of the Divine Maiden Palace Mistress, Yeon Ja-mi, but in doing so, he had deeply wounded Yeon So-ha, who had opened her heart to him.
“But how did you know to come here?”
As the silence stretched, Bu Eunseol asked the question that plagued him. The only one who knew the true identity of the vagrant Seol So was Black Leopard. If Black Leopard had leaked his identity, Bu Eunseol would have to completely revise his strategies.
“A vagrant named Seol So appeared again in Silent Heaven, Desolate Earth.” Yeon So-ha spoke with a trembling voice, barely suppressing her emotions. “Since Your Lordship cut off contact and didn’t return, I had no choice but to mobilize all the financial power of our Palace to find the vagrant named Seol So.”
Yeon So-ha knew well that Bu Eunseol would eventually resurface under that alias. She had directed all intelligence assets to the Shaanxi vagrant market, Silent Heaven, Desolate Earth, and waited. Finally, she had picked up the trail.
However, after he left for the Martial Righteous Alliance, his tracks had vanished again. Eventually, Yeon So-ha deployed her last resort. She visited Black Leopard at the East Drifter, West Wanderer and pleaded.
—Please help me find him.
Black Leopard, moved by Yeon So-ha’s sincerity, had finally cracked. He had revealed the truth, asking her to convey a hateful excuse to Bu Eunseol: It wasn’t simply because my heart was weak, but because I had a hunch she was your other half.
“So that’s what happened.”
Hearing the full story, Bu Eunseol inwardly sighed with relief. Scolding that impudent Black Leopard could wait; the critical fact was that his dual identity as Seol So hadn’t been exposed to the world at large.
“In fact, even after knowing your identity, I tried not to find you.” Yeon So-ha’s expression was deeply wounded. “Since Your Lordship is now the successor of the Demonic Palace, you must have much to do. I could have waited a little longer.”
Teardrops like pearls rolled down her cheeks as she paused.
“But recently, I heard the successor of the Demonic Palace is choosing a bride for an engagement. Forgetting everything promised to me.”
The sight of Yeon So-ha weeping was so pitiful that even the cold-hearted Bu Eunseol felt a pang of guilt. At the same time, a flare of irritation rose against Yeop Hyo-cheon. He didn’t know what scheme the Grand Commander was hatching, but spreading unnecessary rumors had dragged the Divine Maiden Palace into this mess.
“That is a false rumor.”
“A rumor even the guards of the Demonic Palace know is something I heard wrong?”
“Of course. I can stake my neck on it.”
Bu Eunseol pointed to his throat with solemn gravity. His appearance was so resolute that Yeon So-ha burst into a small, watery laugh despite her tears.
“What kind of talk is that?”
Bu Eunseol calmly explained the situation: the proposal had originated from Grand Commander Yeop Hyo-cheon, who had intentionally spread the rumors, and Bu Eunseol had absolutely no intention of getting engaged.
“Alright. I will believe those words.” Fortunately, Yeon So-ha accepted his explanation. “Because there would be no reason for Your Lordship to invent such a lie to persuade me.”
“I am just grateful you understand.”
Bu Eunseol felt a genuine wave of gratitude. If she were merely a woman blinded by jealousy, a troublesome situation would have unfolded.
“But since you say the Grand Commander has such a scheme, I can’t be at ease.”
“Then what can I do to put your mind at rest?”
Yeon So-ha composed herself, her expression turning calm. “I will stay here for the time being and watch for myself until those rumors disappear.”
“Stay in this Pavilion?”
“Your Lordship stayed in our Palace too, didn’t you?”
Yeon So-ha was gentle, but she wasn’t a fool who only knew how to cry and beg for love. Like the future Mistress of the Divine Maiden Palace, she possessed thoroughness and drive.
“Or are you saying you can’t give a place to stay to the Young Palace Mistress of a small sect like me?”
“No way. Just…”
“If there is no room here, I will ask the Divine Demonic Emperor or the Grand Commander.”
That was absolutely out of the question. Bu Eunseol, moving with the quick obsequiousness of a waiter, pointed toward the Stealth Demons Pavilion.
“There are many places to rest comfortably in this Pavilion. Since I also owe a debt to the Divine Maiden Palace… please, make yourself at home.”
“Thank you. Then I’ll go rest a bit.”
“Do so.”
Yeon So-ha turned to walk away, then looked back with a bold face.
“I don’t expect much from Your Lordship.” She smiled softly. “I will leave as soon as the rumor about the engagement disappears. So you don’t need to be troubled by my presence.”
Bu Eunseol became troubled.
Even if he had to use force, he should have sent Yeon So-ha back to the Divine Maiden Palace immediately. Because as she stayed in the Stealth Demons Pavilion, another bizarre rumor began to circulate through the Demonic Palace.
—I heard the Martial Soul Decree Master has a fiancée?
The rumor started within the Stealth Demons Pavilion itself. Even Yeon So-ha had no hesitation in explaining her identity and situation.
—That’s right. I am his betrothed.
When she declared it confidently, the figures of the Demonic Palace found themselves unable to believe it.
—It must be a false rumor.
Bu Eunseol, the successor of the Wolf Fang Pavilion, was an authentic Demonic practitioner. But for him to be the son-in-law of the Divine Maiden Palace, a sect with deep ties to the Orthodox faction? The obstacle between them seemed insurmountable.
—I heard the Divine Maiden Palace Mistress fell ill because the Young Palace Mistress ran away.
However, as news spread that Yeon So-ha had fled her home and her mother had fallen ill from the shock, the atmosphere in the Demonic Palace shifted to acceptance.
—Ah, it was an elopement for love.
It wasn’t entirely unheard of for figures of the Demonic and Orthodox factions to fall in love. For a while, the Demonic Palace was abuzz with their story, and inside the Deathly Shadow Battalion, vitality overflowed for the first time in ages.
This was because the beautiful woman, counted among the Three Beauties under the Heavens, stayed in the pavilion and took meticulous care of the subordinates. When she left the Divine Maiden Palace, she had brought treasures to distribute to Bu Eunseol and his men. She gave generous stipends not only to the Squad Captains but even to the lowly guards.
Moreover, she prepared delicious food and treated everyone with kindness. It reached the point where impatient martial artists were already bowing and calling her ‘Grand Madam.’
***
Yoo Woon-ryong’s Office.
As always, Yoo Woon-ryong sat at his desk, organizing ledgers and texts. And, as always, the Squad Captains of the Deathly Shadow Battalion—Myo Cheon-woo included—were gathered before him.
“High Attendant Jin is beautiful, but… compared to Young Palace Mistress Yeon, one of the Three Beauties under the Heavens, she falls a bit short.”
At Myo Cheon-woo’s assessment, Won Se-mun nodded. “Correct. Plus, the Young Palace Mistress has wealth comparable to the Momentless Fleet.”
Jo Nam-cheon clapped his hands in agreement. “Besides, her cooking skills are excellent. The tofu dish I ate the other day was truly the best.”
“Her personality is so gentle, too. Unless we make a huge mistake, there’s no chance of getting scolded.”
When even the stoic Wi Cheon-gyeong agreed, Myo Cheon-woo spoke with a serious expression. “Then, assuming everyone agrees, let’s decide on Young Lady Yeon as His Lordship’s spouse.”
Clap, clap, clap.
As they applauded their own decision, Yoo Woon-ryong waved his hand, his expression sour.
“If you’re done, get out. Quickly.”
“Yoo Woon-ryong. You agree too, right?”
At Myo Cheon-woo’s persistent question, a thick vein throbbed on Yoo Woon-ryong’s forehead.
“I’m busy to death, so stop talking nonsense and get out!”
“Why get annoyed? We’re leaving.”
As Myo Cheon-woo grumbled and exited, the rest of the Squad Captains rushed out behind him.
“Phew.”
The air seemed to clear as the dark cloud of martial artists dispersed. Yoo Woon-ryong took a deep breath, regaining his calm. He didn’t want to admit it, but it seemed the life of a civil official suited him better than that of a warrior.
Is there really such a thing as bloodline?
At first, he had been dissatisfied when Bu Eunseol entrusted him with paperwork and management. But once he tried it, he found it aligned with his aptitude. Every time he organized a ledger, his spirit calmed, and his mental power seemed to sharpen, much like during deep meditation.
Of course, that didn’t mean he neglected his martial arts. Unlike others, he was training his spirit through administration.
Shall I start writing the Ten-Sectioned Staff Diagram now?
Recently, he had developed an enjoyable hobby: writing a martial arts manual called the Ten-Sectioned Staff Diagram. The Ten-Sectioned Staff was a weapon Yoo Woon-ryong had invented after much deliberation, possessing properties unique enough that even he wasn’t fully accustomed to it yet.
Bu Eunseol. Your martial arts may be a step above, but in the future, this book will surpass yours.
He knew Bu Eunseol was writing a manual. So, Yoo Woon-ryong intended to leave his own legacy in the Murim.
Just as he took out the manuscript from the bookshelf and reached for his brush—
“Squad Captain.”
The voice of his adjutant, Mu Gwang, accompanied a knock.
“It is Mu Gwang.”
“Come in.”
Mu Gwang entered carefully and clasped his hands. “What is it?”
“The successor of the Sword Pavilion has requested a duel with the Decree Master.”
Plop.
Yoo Woon-ryong dropped his brush. What kind of bolt from the blue was this?
“What does that mean? Why would the successor of the Sword Pavilion come into our Pavilion?”
When Yoo Woon-ryong asked with wide eyes, Mu Gwang explained calmly. “Didn’t requests for cooperation come in from various sects due to the Five Poisons Sect incident?”
“So?”
“The Sword Pavilion sent their next successor to our Pavilion as a liaison.”
The Orthodox faction had grasped that kidnapping incidents were happening all over the Central Plains and was investigating. Many sects had requested information sharing about the Five Poisons Sect to find clues.
“And?”
“Doesn’t the Decree Master monopolize information about the Five Poisons Sect? So I guided her to Our Lordship, and she suddenly requested a duel.”
“She requested a duel abruptly?”
“I heard she had an acquaintance with His Lordship. She was surprised by our liege’s greatly increased martial prowess and requested a test of skills.”
Yoo Woon-ryong furrowed his brows, unable to comprehend the logic. “Then she can just duel. Why come to me?”
“That is…” Mu Gwang scratched his head. “The Lord told her to defeat all the masters of the Deathly Shadow Battalion first before facing him.”
“What?”
“Just now, Squad Captain Myo reported that Squad Captain Jo was beaten to a pulp, so he asks the Squad Captain to come to the training ground quickly.”
Thud.
Yoo Woon-ryong slumped back into his chair.
These bastards are like drowning spirits, dragging me down with them!
They could just fight and lose. Why call him, the man peacefully working in his office?
Why do they do this to me?
Yoo Woon-ryong looked at his manuscript with a gloomy expression. Writing the Ten-Sectioned Staff Diagram whenever he had spare time was his only joy. But lately, he didn’t even have time to sit comfortably.
“Tell them I’m not going.”
“What?”
“Say this Squad Captain is borrowing books from the History and Classics Institute…”
Bang.
At that moment, Won Se-mun’s direct subordinates barged into the office.
“Squad Captain Yoo! Please come quickly. Squad Captain Wi is also in danger now.”
Judging by the panic, the successor of the Sword Pavilion had defeated Won Se-mun in the interim and was now dismantling Wi Cheon-gyeong.
“Eee…”
Yoo Woon-ryong clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. As expected of Won Se-mun’s subordinates, barging into a superior’s office like common ruffians.
“Tell Myo Cheon-woo to do it first!”
Finally, Yoo Woon-ryong, whose patience had evaporated, shouted at the top of his lungs.
“I am a civil official! I don’t do duels!”