“Since you’ve conducted an investigation until now, you should know well,” Bu Eunseol spoke calmly. “That the Hundred Swords Sect is a sect connected to the kin of the True Demon, or perhaps the forces of the abyss.”
Seo Jinha had been incessantly deploying the information network of the Death Spirit Corps to track the movements of Yeop Jeok-hwa.
He finally discovered that Yeop Jeok-hwa was the Sect Leader of the Hundred Swords Sect, but at the same time, he detected unbelievable information: the Hundred Swords Sect, known merely as a contract-killing sect, was actually a terrifying place supported by the forces of the Abyss—forces with immense power, comparable to the Three Realms or the Three Families.
As if to prove this, the intelligence agents tracking the Hundred Swords Sect had all gone missing, and the original base they had barely managed to find vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed in this world.
Nevertheless, it was a stroke of extreme luck that Seo Jinha found the newly established Hundred Swords Sect.
It was because the experts of the Hundred Swords Sect were none other than those who, under the orders of the Dark God Heaven Lord, had created a fictional 'Slaughter Ghost' to hunt down top-tier ronin—specifically targeting the mercenary Seolso.
“In any case, my intention is to capture and kill that insidious bastard Yeop Jeok-hwa; I have no intention of exterminating the entire Hundred Swords Sect,” Seo Jinha said.
Bu Eunseol shook his head. “The Hundred Swords Sect is not only protected by a unique formation that makes internal entry nearly impossible, but its natural terrain is designed so that once an outsider enters, they can never leave.” He spoke resolutely. “I cannot afford to lose the precious military strength of the Death Shadow Palace by letting you enter alone for no reason.”
Ultimately, even if he phrased it that way, his intent was for everyone to enter together, annihilate the Hundred Swords Sect, and fulfill Seo Jinha’s revenge.
“Don’t worry too much about the small things.” Myo Cheonwoo pointed at Bu Eunseol and grinned. “Isn’t that guy acting as our leader just for times like this?”
At those words, Seo Jinha, who had been wearing a serious expression, couldn’t help but chuckle. Myo Cheonwoo still possessed a certain innocence in his personality, and sometimes his choice of words was like that of a child. Strangely enough, it had a miraculous effect—making one momentarily forget the harsh and bloody reality of the martial world.
'Our leader.'
Bu Eunseol was a grandmaster of peerless martial arts that encompassed the world, and they themselves were experts capable of becoming overlords of a region. Yet, the phrase 'our leader' made them feel as if they had returned to their innocent childhood, playing at soldiers and trying to capture a small earthen fortress under the command of their leader, Bu Eunseol.
'If only I had met these guys in my childhood...'
The same smile hung on all their lips.
If they had... they probably would have played together until they were exhausted, bickering and fighting.
“I suppose it can’t be helped.”
As Seo Jinha shook his head in resignation, Do Cheonlin spoke in a low voice. “Anything is fine; I just hope the Phantom Mirage Blade can drink its fill of blood.”
Thanks to Bu Eunseol, Do Cheonlin had obtained a scabbard from the Demonic Sword Master that could perfectly control the demonic energy of the Phantom Mirage Blade. Nonetheless, a Demon-Killer Sword was a Demon-Killer Sword; its function and power were maintained only when it drank a certain amount of blood.
“There will be no shortage of it,” Yoo Unryong said. He had been personally tasked by Bu Eunseol to investigate Seo Jinha’s past and the Hundred Swords Sect, so he knew the place well. “Not only do they have the support of the Abyss, but they have stationed powerful forces capable of picking out and killing top-tier ronin.”
“Then, how do we get in?” At Myo Cheonwoo’s question, Yoo Unryong explained again. “The only path for those not permitted to go to the Hundred Swords Sect is through a secret passage hidden between the cliffs.”
The witnesses looked out into the vast void between the towering cliffs. No matter how much they looked, no passage was visible, and it couldn't be sensed even with transcendental senses. Yoo Unryong stepped forward and began to touch the stones at the edge of the cliff.
After moving them for a long time—Jiing—a transparent stone bridge appeared in the air. As it turned out, a special formation had been deployed on this cliff to allow entry into the Hundred Swords Sect.
“However, another formation is layered within this transparent stone bridge. If an unauthorized person walks blindly, they will fall into the abyss.” After speaking, Yoo Unryong looked at Bu Eunseol. It seemed right to leave the solution to such a difficult problem to him.
“Understood.” Bu Eunseol nodded. “Follow behind me carefully.”
Having learned the essence of the Gongsun family’s formation studies from Gongsun Dankyung, he had achieved great success in formations. Whether it was installed as a legal tool or through sorcery, as long as it was set up as a formation, he could find a way to break it.
Che-che-chek.
Stepping onto the transparent stone bridge, Bu Eunseol moved his feet incessantly, performing Swift Beyond Shadow. Every time he changed direction in mid-air, a faint color spread from the transparent bridge.
‘As I thought, it’s here.’
Each stone of the bridge contained a strange sorcerous power. However, since it was also deployed within the framework of formation studies, the sorcery would disappear once the formation was broken.
‘This is definitely not the capability of the Hundred Swords Sect.’
The formation installed on the stone bridge was unique and alien, belonging to no faction in the orthodox or demonic martial world. Furthermore, no matter how brilliant one’s mind might be, it was so profound that it could never be solved in a short period. In other words, the Hundred Swords Sect possessed power far greater than what the investigation had revealed.
Tsu-tsu-tsut.
Bu Eunseol, suspended in the air, continuously changed his orientation and deactivated the formation on the transparent stone bridge. Finally, a large entrance, like a cave, appeared in front of them. Looking inside, there was no light at all, and even a path could not be seen.
“This is a place where a Demon Lamp is needed,” Yoo Unryong said as he approached. “It is the Demon Lamp Magnetic Gold Lock Technique... designed so that the correct path is visible only if one possesses a Demon Lamp.”
“So you’re saying it can’t be solved through progress because it's not a formation?”
“Correct.”
Zi-zi-jik.
In an instant, Bu Eunseol generated purple flames across his entire body. He intended to spread the Thunder Spirit Energy—the purest and most intense of nature's powers—to substitute for the Demon Lamp.
“Will that work?”
“Even if it can’t play the role of the Demon Lamp, it should be able to break the sorcery.”
Zi-zi-zi-jik.
As Bu Eunseol, now a mass of purple lightning, walked slowly forward, the invisible path began to appear clearly.
Chiiii.
Seeing smoke constantly rising from the path, it seemed the Thunder Spirit Energy was not acting as a Demon Lamp but was instead annihilating the sorcery with its powerful force. While walking endlessly, an absurd sight revealed itself: a bottomless abyss stretched out before their eyes.
“Is the formation not fully broken?” Myo Cheonwoo, who was following, frowned. After coming all this way with such difficulty, a bottomless abyss?
“We’ve come the right way,” Bu Eunseol said. “This is simply the path.”
“What?”
A puzzled Myo Cheonwoo looked down the cliff.
“Haven't you misjudged?”
No matter how much he enhanced his vision, he couldn't see the bottom.
“At this rate, it’s no exaggeration to call it a Thousand Men Cliff! If you’ve misjudged, our bones won't even be—”
Thud.
With a dull sound, Myo Cheonwoo fell down the cliff. Yoo Unryong, standing behind him, had kicked him.
“Uaaah...!” With a scream like a death rattle, Myo Cheonwoo’s body fell endlessly down the cliff.
“I felt like my ears were going to bleed.” Wiping his nose, Yoo Unryong threw himself down the cliff without a second thought.
“Everyone has become a freak in the meantime.” Do Cheonlin clicked his tongue as he looked at Bu Eunseol and Seo Jinha. “Just like you two.” And then, he too turned toward the cliff.
‘Just like you two...’
Mulling over those words, Seo Jinha shook his head. Ultimately, in Do Cheonlin’s eyes, all the squad leaders, including himself, resembled Bu Eunseol.
“How ridiculous.” Bu Eunseol frowned as he looked down at the disappearing Do Cheonlin. “He’s a freak himself.” Then, he immediately leaped down.
Seo Jinha watched the scene and burst into a hollow laugh. “Freaks only gather around a freak.”
From his perspective, it wasn't just Bu Eunseol.
The corps leaders of the Death Shadow Palace, like Won Semun, the warriors, the elite members, and even all the leaders and subordinates of the Martial Soul Society—not a single one of them wasn't a freak.
Since Bu Eunseol was a freak to begin with, freaks couldn't help but gather around him.
***
As they fell down the cliff, a sharp wind constantly brushed past their ears. Judging by the speed and distance, it was certainly over a thousand men tall. If they simply fell like this, their bodies would be shattered.
‘Is it really okay?’
But Bu Eunseol, falling ahead, didn't even think of performing a movement technique; he was simply falling with his arms wide open.
‘Oh, whatever happens, happens.’
Seo Jinha also relaxed his mind and spread his arms.
Phu-reut.
After falling for a long time, something amazing happened. Suddenly, the bottomless ground appeared in front of them, and their posture changed to standing in a passage where the wind was pouring in.
‘How strange.’
The Thousand Men Cliff had suddenly become a long passage with a strong wind blowing, and they found themselves standing there.
Step, step.
Passing through the dark-stained passage, a wide hall appeared, followed by a narrow door that only one person could barely pass through. It looked like a gateway to handle intruders before they entered the Hundred Swords Sect. But then, a red mist began to rise from the floor.
“The mist is poisonous. Circulate your internal energy to block it.” Surprisingly, even before entering the gateway, red mist was rising.
“If it's like this, the disciples of the Hundred Swords Sect would be poisoned too, wouldn't they?” Myo Cheonwoo tilted his head. “What kind of sect releases poisonous mist before you even get inside?”
“The members of the Hundred Swords Sect have likely adapted perfectly to this poison, so they should be fine,” Yoo Unryong said. “Looking at the toxicity, it’s not meant to be life-threatening, but rather a poison that makes the body unable to move. When an outsider enters, their nerves will be paralyzed, and they'll become immobile.”
“It’s a complete fortress.” Seo Jinha shook his head. A sect that installs such vast and wide-ranging formations and sorcery, and even sets up a separate gateway to enter... only a few of the giant factions of the martial world, including Shaolin, would do such a thing.
Yet, the Hundred Swords Sect, a mere contract-killing sect that wasn't even properly known in the martial world, had installed a gateway of this level?
“Let’s go in for now.”
Bu Eunseol was the first to enter through the narrow door. As they entered one by one, a space with red mist in a wide vacant lot was revealed.
Kureureung.
At the same time, the small door they had entered through closed firmly. It was designed so that one could enter, but never leave.
“Assassins are hiding in the mist,” Do Cheonlin said.
Hidden within that red mist spread everywhere were killers who had concealed their presence. They wore black clothes and red masks, melting into the mist, seemingly playing the role of disposing of any approaching outsiders.
“Actually, this works out well.” Bu Eunseol nodded as he looked at the vacant lot filled with red mist. “Instead of having a surveillance system that is so secretive that no one in the world can easily infiltrate, and which surely finds and executes any outsiders who enter...”
Bu Eunseol laughed coldly. “They themselves have no path of retreat; it's a structure where they will be annihilated unless they kill every enemy who enters.”
In short, once you entered this place, you could never leave unless you killed every enemy inside.
“I don’t know what kind of confidence they have to create a gateway like this,” Myo Cheonwoo muttered, and then Bu Eunseol spoke.
“Unryong.”
Yoo Unryong had trained his sensory martial arts to the extreme this time. Therefore, he would be very suitable for dealing with the assassins hidden in this red mist.
“Understood.” Yoo Unryong nodded and stepped forward. As he stretched out his left hand, the Ten-Section Staff wrapped around his left arm popped out with a metallic clack. “I’ll deal with them all at once and return.” Leaving that single remark, he walked slowly into the red mist.
Step, step.
As Yoo Unryong went inside, the red mist grew thicker, and the movements of the secretly moving assassins could be felt.
‘Let’s see.’
As Yoo Unryong tried to swing the Ten-Section Staff—Phusyut!—blood suddenly spurted from his shoulder. They were not just moving within the mist; they were executing a unique killing method, launching a preemptive strike at the exact moment he attempted to perform a martial art technique.
“So this covering mist is the senses of the killers.” If the mist itself acted as the eyes and ears of the assassins, they would be able to detect any martial arts Yoo Unryong used in advance and launch a preemptive strike at the moment of his attack.
“Fine.”
Swa-aaaa-ek!
Before they could attack, Yoo Unryong swung the Ten-Section Staff, creating a circular aura around his body. He intentionally drew a large circle, creating a loud noise and vibrations. Then, the mist began to scatter slowly, and the assassins hidden within started to reveal themselves one by one.
Pat! Thump!
Every time an assassin revealed themselves, they collapsed from a fatal wound. Using the noise and vibrations spreading from the Ten-Section Staff, he began to deal with the hidden assassins one by one.
Phusyut! Pa-at!
However, Yoo Unryong’s body was not unscathed either. Because he had to swing the Ten-Section Staff pointlessly to create vibrations and noise, he naturally had many openings, and the killers did not miss those opportunities, pouring out sharp sword techniques.
Drip.
Dozens of wounds appeared on his body as he swung the staff, and blood began to flow.
“Good!”
Pa-pa-pat!
Yoo Unryong scattered the blood flowing from his body using the Ten-Section Staff. As the blood sprayed into the red mist, faint shadows began to appear one by one. He used the blood flowing from his body as a medium to capture the enemy's movements.
“Ha-ap!”
With a shout, Yoo Unryong swung the Ten-Section Staff with all his might once again. Originally, he used only perfect techniques as if measured by a ruler and considered being injured a disgrace. If one predicted the enemy's movements and performed perfect techniques, they would never be injured. But now, like a wild beast, he was engaged in a bloody battle, tangled with the assassins hidden in the mist.
Shyik!
However, the assassins were no fools. Realizing that Yoo Unryong was performing terrifyingly sharp sensory martial arts, they began to target only his legs to reduce his mobility.
Pat!
Eventually, Yoo Unryong retreated for a moment, pulling back to where Bu Eunseol and the others were standing.
“That looks tough.” Seeing Yoo Unryong’s bloodied legs, Do Cheonlin shook his head. “At this rate, the Death Shadow Palace might end up with a crippled strategist.”
Although he couldn't see the fight in the mist clearly, he was pointing out that Yoo Unryong had relied too much on sensory martial arts and was neglecting his defense.
Grit.
Yoo Unryong’s face contorted—Chwa-ak!—and the Ten-Section Staff also appeared from his other hand, the right one. “Whether I become a cripple or a beggar, keep your eyes wide open and watch!”
Hwi-iiii-ik!
And then he ran back in. With his left hand, he thrust at the assassins in the mist as if performing spear techniques with the Ten-Section Staff, and with his right hand, he defended against the pouring attacks as if swinging a silk whip.
“Ha-aaaa-ap!”
With a thunderous shout, the sounds of constant thudding and crashing were heard from within the mist. After about fifteen minutes had passed—Thump, thump—along with the sound of logs falling, the assassins who had been hidden in the mist were rolling around, having become bloodied corpses. There were as many as a hundred and fifty of them.
Without even revealing himself in the mist, Yoo Unryong had single-handedly annihilated a unit of ghost-like assassins who predicted the enemy's movements in advance.
Step, step.
Yoo Unryong, covered in blood, returned to the entrance. Chwa-ak. As he stretched out both hands, the blood on the Ten-Section Staff was flung toward Do Cheonlin’s face.
Pat!
Do Cheonlin lightly tilted his head to avoid the blood. In the meantime, the Ten-Section Staff slid back into Yoo Unryong’s sleeves. “I had calculated everything from the start—letting those bastards target my lower body.”
Just as Yoo Unryong was about to say something more while glaring at Do Cheonlin, Seo Jinha frowned. “What are you doing?”
Myo Cheonwoo was crouching down, examining the dead assassins. The sight was reminiscent of Bu Eunseol’s past, when he used to study martial arts by looking at the scars left on corpses.
“What, are you going to identify the origin of their martial arts by looking at the traces on the corpses too?”
“This one will do.”
With an eccentric answer, Myo Cheonwoo pulled a long sword from a corpse and wore it at his waist. Myo Cheonwoo’s specialty was palm techniques, and he always used his hands as weapons. Yet, he insisted on wearing a long sword—and an unremarkable one at that.
“Why are you taking that?” When Seo Jinha asked again, Myo Cheonwoo, who had fastened the sword, grinned. “I need to wear an unremarkable sword like this for it to feel like mine, right?”
“What are you talking about?” Just as Seo Jinha’s brow furrowed, Bu Eunseol spoke.
“Let’s set off again.”
***
After passing through the gateway of the red mist and moving forward, they saw a forest where countless trees grew tangled together. And at the entrance of the forest, like the red mist gateway, there was a door that only one person could pass through.
“They should have named it the Hundred Gateways instead of the Hundred Swords Sect.” Myo Cheonwoo, clicking his tongue, entered the forest first—Flash!—and with a sharp light, red blood instantly flowed from his cheek.
“What a fascinating technique.” Myo Cheonwoo exclaimed in admiration.
He realized that not only were those strangely shaped trees all places where people were hiding, but they themselves served as the materials for a formation, constantly changing the structure of the forest.
“This feels more like sorcery than a formation.”
“There will only be one hidden person—at most two.” Yoo Unryong, scanning the forest, narrowed his eyes. “A method like this that touches nature reveals itself more clearly the more people are inside, whether it's sorcery or a formation.”
“It doesn’t matter what it is.” Myo Cheonwoo drew the sword from his waist and spoke confidently. “I’ll do it this time.”
Before anyone could stop him, he walked boldly into the forest.
Duduk.
As he walked, the gaunt trees in the forest began to twist strangely. And the entrance they had come through was completely blocked. This forest gateway was also designed so that only one person could enter, and one could not leave until they died.
Pat!
Just in case, Myo Cheonwoo tried to cut the closed entrance with his sword. But the closed door didn't even have a scratch on it.
“So it really only opens if I eliminate them.” Myo Cheonwoo muttered with a confident expression. “I’ll take care of it in an instant and open the door.”
Pat!
At the same time, Myo Cheonwoo used a movement technique to vanish. As if he had performed the Turtle Breathing Technique, he extremely suppressed his biological reactions and used a secretive movement technique so that the one controlling the forest could not find him.
However, Myo Cheonwoo was also unable to find them. The assassin hidden among the gaunt trees had not only perfectly hidden their presence as if they had refined the Great Natural Qi, but no abnormality could be found whether through the naked eye or through the senses.
A death-like silence flowed. Even though fifteen minutes had passed, no battle broke out, and no one revealed themselves.
Pat.
Eventually, Myo Cheonwoo revealed himself. At this rate, time would only continue to pass with no progress. Myo Cheonwoo closed his eyes. Woong. Then, a silver glow spread from the sword he was holding, and a storm-like vibration spread in all directions. Had he refined a new sword art? Holding the sword wrapped in silver light, he looked like a heavenly god descended from the sky.
“So you were there!” Myo Cheonwoo opened his eyes and gave a thunderous shout. Then, a single branch in the quiet forest moved very minutely. It was only a tiny tremor, but it could not deceive the transcendental senses of an expert like Myo Cheonwoo.
Shyik!
Becoming a streak of light, Myo Cheonwoo unleashed a fast sword strike at the assassin who had momentarily revealed their presence.
Sli-ce!
With a chilling cutting sound, sharp sword energy sliced through the body of the hidden assassin.
“You’re easily fooled.” Myo Cheonwoo grinned. In truth, he didn't know where the enemy was hiding.
But because the voice and the look in his eyes when he shouted, “So you were there!” were so natural, the one in hiding couldn't help but be tricked into thinking they had been discovered and had unknowingly revealed their presence.
Thump.
Ultimately, the hidden assassin revealed themselves, their body sliced in two.
A terrifying assassin who had boasted flawless concealment, as if they had refined a perfect Great Natural Qi, had lost their life in such a hollow way, falling for Myo Cheonwoo’s mere words.
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