Bu Eunseol could not hide his bewilderment.
"Is such a thing even possible?"
Jongbaek, breathing raggedly, nodded his head.
"Because it is the Heavenly Mechanism Star."
The Heavenly Mechanism Star is known to be more than just someone with superior intelligence; he is said to be able to analyze current flows to predict future events. Indeed, had he not enabled Gongsun Dankyung to escape from the Jungson family as if he could see the future?
Not only that, but he had even restored ancient secret arts to create the perfect two hundred Yin-Soul Killing Men warriors, so such attempts did not feel entirely far-fetched.
‘So...’
The Heavenly Mechanism Star.
He maintained cooperative relationships or exerted influence over all sorts of factions, not just the Ten Demonic Sects like the Hwa Wu Sword Sect or the Extinction Palace, but even the Jungson family and the followers of the True Demon.
It had always been incomprehensible how such a thing was possible, no matter how great his abilities were.
But if he had joined hands with Pamyeong, one of the True Demon’s attendants known as 'The One Who Cracks Fate'?
His previous actions became somewhat understandable.
"However, he said that even if the chain of reincarnation is created, not just anyone can obtain it."
Jongbaek’s shocking words were not over yet.
"Therefore, he said that in a place like the Infinite Land, where the boundaries of time and space have crumbled, he is constantly transcending the limits of humanity over and over again."
It was a desperate revelation.
Bu Eunseol had been able to achieve leaps in progress just by training in the Infinite Land for five days. But to think that the Three Attendants, whose power rivaled that of the True Demon, were wandering in search of the Infinite Land and training constantly?
‘Was that it?’
Bu Eunseol had grown stronger faster than anyone across generations, yet he always felt lacking and insufficient.
Only now did he realize the reason.
It was because the Three Attendants, who possessed transcendental power comparable to the True Demon, were secretly roaming the martial world. Even as he crossed wall after wall, he had continued to feel inadequate.
"Then, over that vast time, having accumulated transcendental knowledge through constant reincarnation while retaining memories..."
Bu Eunseol asked.
"The True Demon, who accumulated knowledge and power over such an eon, must have effectively become a being who transcends everything."
"That is unknown. However."
Jongbaek shook his head.
"It was said that the True Demon is still human."
"Human."
"And that losing his memory... was also his choice."
It was a shocking statement. That the True Demon chose to discard his memories and wander of his own accord? Why would the True Demon, who could be said to enjoy eternal life simply by possessing the chain of reincarnation, commit such a dangerous act?
"Furthermore, the ambition to kill all the weak using the Inbiin and create a new humanity..."
Jongbaek took a deep breath and looked at the distant sky.
"That was not the True Demon’s idea, but merely the counsel of another of the Three Attendants."
Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
"Are you speaking of a servant other than Pamyeong?"
"That is so."
As he continued, Jongbaek’s eyes gradually lost their focus. His body had collapsed the moment he donned the Primal Demon Artifact. Although he had stayed alive and even engaged in a fierce battle thanks to the mysterious power Bu Eunseol injected into him, his life was slowly flickering out as that power vanished.
"He wished for the world to be filled with people who surpassed the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death—possessing bodies as strong as gods, without pain, disease, or aging."
Bu Eunseol swallowed his surprise. To think that the goals he had always attributed to the True Demon were actually the words of one of the Three Attendants?
"But they say when the True Demon heard that story, he said this: To do that, one would have to kill every person currently existing in the world."
‘Pure evil.’
According to the writings left by the founders of the Snow Blossom Sect and the Divine Maiden Palace, they all described the True Demon as pure evil. At the time, he couldn't understand why they used the word 'pure' for such a being.
But finally, he understood.
The idea of completely destroying the world and massacring current humans to make them stronger was a truly childlike concept.
Drip.
Blood began to flow from Jongbaek’s mouth, and his skin started to crack like a spiderweb. Finally, all his life force was spent.
"Where are the Three Attendants?"
"They exist everywhere."
Jongbaek’s eyes were completely blurred as he continued.
"Sometimes they appear as family, and sometimes as close comrades."
It was an incomprehensible statement.
Did that mean the Three Attendants could perform perfect disguise techniques?
This riddle would be solved much later, when the secret of the pattern hidden in the Silent Tiger Soul Sword was unraveled and the person from the Nangyang Pavilion possessed by it was saved... but that was a story for the distant future.
"I will give you one last piece of advice."
Jongbaek spoke while looking at the distant sky with transparent eyes.
"In both the Demonic Way and the Righteous Sects, what you see is not everything. And they have now finished their preparations to reveal themselves on the surface."
"Storing the unique weapons and spirit plaques of martial artists in the Secret Treasury was merely a part of that."
"So, the Ten Demonic Sects will partially collapse... and the ones beneath them are ready to crawl out one by one."
"You knew."
"I did."
In the past, Jeok-bung had given Bu Eunseol a meaningful warning. Having a hunch, he had looked at the entire martial world as a single game board and closely investigated how the grand scheme was moving and what lay beneath it. Thanks to that, he had finally been able to grasp some of the source currents underlying the divide between the Demonic Way and the Righteous Sects.
"I suppose the peaceful martial world is over now."
Jongbaek spoke with a voice full of regret.
"A shame, just when things were about to get truly interesting..."
And he muttered while looking at Bu Eunseol.
"If I had stayed in the Nangyang Pavilion a little longer, would I have been different?"
If he hadn't betrayed his sect and had diligently practiced his martial arts. Even after peering into the abyss of the martial world. If he hadn't despaired but instead grew the strength to oppose them? Could he, like Ak Muryeong and Bu Eunseol, have become a pillar of the martial world and fought them?
Bu Eunseol tried to offer an answer.
But with those words, Jongbaek passed away.
He had seen the abyss of the martial world early on and tried to manage the world by standing beside those powerful beings, but in the end, he died after merely being used by them. Perhaps until the moment of his death, he felt an unerasable regret and longing.
"......It would have been so."
Bu Eunseol nodded toward the deceased Jongbaek.
"Because that is the teaching of this Pavilion."
The teachings of the Nangyang Pavilion seemed stubborn and slow, but they always pointed toward the right path. However, from the perspective of disciples with great intellect or grand ambitions, those teachings might feel questionable or old-fashioned.
—Is this path truly right?
—Is there not a faster and more correct path?
—Could I not become stronger this way?
Of course, these questions are not wrong. All progress begins with a question. But there was a vast difference between loving the Nangyang Pavilion and merely loving its strength.
Bu Eunseol had never once doubted the teachings of the Nangyang Pavilion.
It was not because he was convinced that its teachings were the most rational or the fastest path. He simply believed and followed.
There are countless forks in the road of life.
Since regret can remain whichever path one chooses, he put forth his full effort without looking back.
While receiving the Beast Way from Sa Woo on Hell Island, he accepted his educational style and the Nangyang Pavilion system.
After arriving at the Nangyang Pavilion with Dan Cheong, he naturally accepted the life and ways of that place. He simply did his best in silence.
Because he had chosen to follow the way of the Nangyang Pavilion himself.
However, Jongbaek doubted those teachings despite being a disciple and ultimately chose a different path. And he simply took responsibility for that choice.
"Is it starting now?"
Bu Eunseol looked up at the distant sky. Jongbaek had handled numerous matters in the martial world under the orders of the True Demon's followers. The fact that such a man said the peace of the martial world had been broken meant that the True Demon’s followers had sensed that change in power long ago.
Since he said they were ready to reveal themselves... all that remained was for the existing order to collapse and the forces in the darkness to burst forth.
Bu Eunseol looked down at Jongbaek’s corpse. His body, having used the Primal Demon Artifact, had collapsed miserably, but it was not destroyed. Perhaps it was a sign of his will not to submit to the power of the True Demon at the very end.
Originally, Bu Eunseol intended to bury Jongbaek’s body. Regardless of what happened, he was a figure of the Nangyang Pavilion and had regained his pride as a martial artist at the end. But sensing a faint presence, Bu Eunseol paid his respects politely to Jongbaek’s remains.
Then, he used his movement technique and immediately left Ghost Island.
‘I wish to speak more with the Pavilion Lord, but...’
As he left Ghost Island in a single breath using the Land-Flight Art, he wore a look of regret.
‘He would be uncomfortable.’
He was able to perceive it belatedly—that Ak Muryeong had not left. He was likely certain that Bu Eunseol would win, and intended to send off Jongbaek, who was once his martial uncle, on his final journey with his own hands.
—The previous Pavilion Lord suffered from a great illness.
In the past, Master Iron Wang Geol had briefly told Bu Eunseol the history of the Nangyang Pavilion before he left for the Nine Deaths Squad.
‘And since he said they were particularly close with the previous Pavilion Lord.’
Hearing the stories of both Ak Muryeong and Jongbaek, he could understand.
The previous Pavilion Lord had not been struck down and killed by Jongbaek’s hand. He had given his remaining life without hesitation to the junior brother who had cherished him since childhood.
‘That is why the Pavilion Lord could not bring himself to act personally.’
Because Ak Muryeong also knew his master’s heart... he could not bring himself to strike Jongbaek with his own hands. In the end, he watched Bu Eunseol’s entire fight from afar. As expected, Bu Eunseol had realized both the meaning of the formula he passed on and his own flaws. Once he allowed Jongbaek to pass away as a mere martial artist and a disciple of the Nangyang Pavilion, Ak Muryeong intended to send him off on his final path with the respect due to a martial uncle.
A disciple of the Nangyang Pavilion is forever a disciple of the Nangyang Pavilion.
Even if they fell into delusion and wandering and lost their way on the wrong path for a long time... that fact absolutely never changes.
Returning to the Majeon, Bu Eunseol once again activated the intelligence network of the Martial Soul Command Lord to identify and grasp the information he had missed and the facts unfolding beneath the surface of the Demonic Way.
‘The Pavilion Lord was being as considerate of me as possible.’
In truth, Ak Muryeong had not the slightest interest in the affairs of the martial world, whether it concerned the Baekri Clan or the True Demon, nor did he use intelligence organizations to observe the trends of the martial world. But to enlighten Bu Eunseol, he had entrusted him with handling Jongbaek and allowed him to obtain the necessary information.
Since Jongbaek was a figure who had personally joined the True Demon, he would be able to obtain at least some information about the True Demon or the trends of his followers.
‘They will start crawling out one by one now.’
He had suspected it all along. That in both the Demonic and Righteous martial world, infinitely deep and dark forces were crouching. Initially, Bu Eunseol intended to prevent them from revealing themselves and stop them from coming to the forefront of the martial world. But now, his mind had changed.
‘Rather, I must make them reveal themselves completely.’
To uproot them for certain, their true forms had to be exposed first.
‘I will unearth them all.’
A flash of light spread through Bu Eunseol’s eyes as he made a new resolution.
‘And I will make you fight like hungry ghosts and devour each other.’
If the situation of the abyss forces emerging into the light could not be stopped? He decided to take the lead in that fight, ensuring that commoners were never caught in the crossfire or harmed, and making them destroy each other. Like venomous creatures in a jar, he would make them only devour one another.
Knock, knock.
Then, along with the sound of knocking, the voice of Yoo Unryong was heard.
"It is Yoo Unryong."
"Come in."
The door opened, and Yoo Unryong entered with an exceptionally serious face.
"What is the matter?"
Bu Eunseol furrowed his brows. Yoo Unryong had grown to resemble his own personality, barely blinking at most matters, yet why was he wearing such a stiff expression?
"The corps leaders are gathered in the meeting room."
Bu Eunseol’s brow furrowed. If the corps leaders had gathered voluntarily without him calling a meeting? It was certain that significant information had been obtained or an emergency had occurred.
"I understand."
As Bu Eunseol went to the meeting room without a second word, all the corps leaders except Wi Cheongyeong were seated, and two large bundles were placed on the meeting table. Judging by the dried bloodstains all over the outside of the bundles, one could tell what was inside without even opening them.
"Heads."
Heads.
It refers to severed heads, especially those of enemies in war or criminals decapitated as punishment.
In ancient wars, there was a practice of bringing severed heads as evidence of killing an enemy. Since the merits were evaluated and rewarded by counting the number of severed enemy heads, the severed head was called 'su-geup,' and 'geup' became the word for counting severed heads.
"Who sent them?"
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Yoo Unryong lowered his head and said, "It is the Hwa Wu Sword Sect."
In an instant, Bu Eunseol clenched his teeth. Only then did he realize whose heads were inside those bundles.
"It is better not to open them."
Despite Yoo Unryong’s words, Bu Eunseol slowly unwrapped the bundles. Then, two heads with their eyes tightly closed revealed themselves.
It was Cheon Un-gwang, who had passed on to him the peerless quick-sword killing style of the Unmatched Thunderbolt Form, and Dan Cheonyang, who had taught him the interpretation of high-level martial arts formulas and the basics.
Inside the bundle wrapping the heads was a small letter.
Just by the handwriting, one could guess it was a letter written by Weiji Hyesang.
—I gave the order to kill you, but since it wasn't carried out after quite some time, I simply killed them myself.
At the end, it added: These people can no longer be called disciples of this sect, so I hope you bury them in a sunny spot.
Even if he wanted to perform a funeral and bury them in a sunny spot... he couldn't because there were no bodies.
Given that cruel personality, he surely let the remaining bodies be eaten by wild dogs. He had certainly sent the heads to ensure that a proper funeral could not even be held, intending for Bu Eunseol to blame himself and suffer.
‘Fine.’
A blood-red light rose in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
‘I can delay no longer.’
He had been holding back all this time.
Because the foundation of his swordsmanship was the Hwa Wu Sword, and it was the masters of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect who had laid the foundation of his high-level martial arts.
Because of that debt, and because of Jingak’s request to preserve the lineage of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect, he had constantly postponed dealing with them. But now, there was no longer any reason to endure or delay.
Clatter.
Then, the sound of fast footsteps was heard from outside, and the door to the meeting room was urgently opened.
It was Wi Cheongyeong.
"Command Lord. Something big has happened."
He hurried to Bu Eunseol and handed him a letter.
"Just now, the Extinction Palace has announced its intention to withdraw from the Majeon."
At the shocking and sudden words, the atmosphere in the meeting room froze once more.
"Why the Extinction Palace all of a sudden?"
When Myo Cheonwoo, the first to recover, asked, Wi Cheongyeong spoke while catching his breath.
"It is said to be because the successor of the Majeon has constantly broken the spirit of the Ten Demonic Sects."
Then Bu Eunseol, having finished reading the letter, passed it to the corps leaders. It was a copy of the letter the Extinction Palace had sent to the Majeon.
(Omission). The one called the successor of the Majeon has constantly shrunk the sphere of influence of the Ten Demonic Sects and broken the spirit of the senior members, so no other way can be found. As of today, this Palace withdraws from the Majeon. And from now on, we will walk the true path of the Demonic Way and strive to seize hegemony once again. (Omission).
The corps leaders who read the letter widened their eyes.
Although it was a copy and did not bear the signature of the Palace Lord of the Extinction Palace, such words could not be sent in jest.
The Extinction Palace had truly formalized its withdrawal from the Majeon.
"Because of this, all the senior members of this Palace have begun a meeting."
Wi Cheongyeong spoke with an exceptionally dark expression.
"Excluding the Command Lord."
The faces of the corps leaders hardened in an instant.
The Ten Demonic Sects are the Majeon.
If even one withdraws from the Majeon?
It would become the laughingstock of the world. Moreover, not calling Bu Eunseol to such a significant matter meant...
"It is because the Extinction Palace clearly turned the reason for withdrawal onto the Command Lord."
At Yoo Unryong’s words, Wi Cheongyeong nodded.
"That is correct."
The Extinction Palace used the exact term Martial Soul Command Lord for the cause of their withdrawal. Because of that, the senior members were conducting the meeting without calling Bu Eunseol, and it was clear they would turn the cause and responsibility for this incident onto him.
However, Bu Eunseol thought deeply for a moment and then nodded. This was not a matter where what was visible was everything; there was certainly something underlying it. He was quickly weighing that.
"First, let us observe."
"Pardon?"
When Wi Cheongyeong asked back with a surprised expression,
"The meeting ends here."
Bu Eunseol, standing up as if it were of no importance, immediately turned away to leave the meeting room. Because of his peaceful and calm attitude, the corps leaders could only watch him with dazed expressions.
At this time, they did not yet know that soon, two of the Ten Demonic Sects would be destroyed by Bu Eunseol’s hand.
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