Jin Seol's entire body had turned like a hedgehog because of the sharply scattered concealed weapons.
"Lady Jin,"
Bu Eunseol stretched out his hand, realizing that the concealed weapons embedded in her body were Striking Clothes.
Originally, the outer surface of the Striking Clothes was made with fine, sharp protrusions. Once embedded, those protrusions would catch, making them impossible to pull out easily.
Jiing.
However, Bu Eunseol possessed terrifying internal energy and the Heavenly Heart Mirror Method, which allowed him to look inside the human body.
Woong.
Unleashing even the internal energy stored in his core, Bu Eunseol blunted the numerous fine protrusions of the Striking Clothes lodged in her internal organs. When they finally became smooth like glass beads, he safely expelled them from her body.
Papat!
As the Striking Clothes flew out in all directions, Jin Seol collapsed to the ground as if crumbling. Bu Eunseol quickly supported her body.
"Lady Jin."
"Command Lord."
Focus had vanished from Jin Seol's eyes.
She had suffered countless fatal wounds while cutting through a path of blood to get here over the course of four days. It was a miracle that she was even breathing until now.
"You came."
Jin Seol looked around with unfocused eyes. "But I cannot see you."
Because of the Striking Clothes, even her optic nerves had been damaged, leaving her ultimately unable to see ahead.
"Bear with it for just a moment."
Bu Eunseol, who pressed the thirty-six major acupoints where blood was pouring out, placed Blue Spirit Stone Elixir and the Potential Demon Divine Pellet into her mouth. Momentarily, color returned to her complexion, but the energy of life was still fading away.
'Why is it not working?'
Bu Eunseol understood.
These two medicines were spiritual elixirs capable of bringing someone back to life even if they had only one breath left. However, because Jin Seol had lost all her life energy, they were struggling to work.
"Do not strain yourself."
Jin Seol's consciousness was turning ice-cold, yet holding onto the light of life.
Until now, she had held on without her soul leaving her flesh, sustained by a single strong will to meet Bu Eunseol.
"Lady Jin."
With a sorrowful expression, Bu Eunseol cradled Jin Seol's face and held her hand.
There was nothing more he could do. He would infuse true energy into her, if only to let her speak her final words comfortably.
"I am sorry."
Jin Seol, blind in both eyes, murmured in a low voice.
"I always end up causing you trouble."
"Do not say such things."
Bu Eunseol shook his head. Had not all of this happened because of him?
"Lady Jin, I..."
He was about to say, 'I have yet to repay the kindness she bestowed.'
But Jin Seol would not let him say such words. Therefore, she spoke again, letting her words flow like this. Therefore, she spoke like this again.
"We were on good terms for many years."
At that moment, Chugwi, who knew the situation, was watching Bu Eunseol.
"Martial Soul Command Lord."
And he spoke with an arrogant expression.
"Currently, she carries the status of a rebel of our Majeon. Do you know what happens if you take in such a person? Even if you are the Command Lord..."
Chugwi could not say anything more.
"Aaaah!"
Along with a single scream, he instantly turned into a lump of blood.
Even during desperate times, Bu Eunseol reduced the power of his poison as much as possible. This was because the power of the poison was so mighty and cruel that it made it impossible to even find a corpse. No matter how wicked a person was, they had the right to be buried properly in the ground.
That was his grandfather's teaching.
But when Chugwi wore a sneer at Jin Seol's death, Bu Eunseol, without even looking at him, instantly turned his body into a bloody rain.
Paa, shuuuuk.
At this cruel sight, the surrounding martial artists who were encircling them could not say a word.
Chugwi was the head of the secret organization of Majeon and boasted tremendous martial prowess reaching the Supreme Heavenly Realm. Yet to turn such a man into blood without lifting a single finger?
Bu Eunseol did not even give the martial artists a glance and asked again, "Why did you not flee?"
Jin Seol was a clever woman.
Surely, if she had intended to hide her traces starting from the West Lake instead of Majeon, she could have evaded pursuit easily. Surely, if she had intended to hide her traces starting from the West Lake instead of Majeon, she could have evaded pursuit easily. However, she intentionally showed a movement to return to Majeon, and because of that, she could not shake off her pursuers.
"Because I had something I wanted to tell the Command Lord."
Jin Seol said calmly.
"Ever since I learned the truth, I went to the Lord's residence and constantly investigated. Wondering if there might be anything that could help you,"
"Lady Jin."
"The Lord is not a person of the Demonic Path."
At the shocking words that followed, Bu Eunseol widened his eyes.
The number one person of the Demonic Path was not a person of the Demonic Path?
"Investigate the vase next to the bed in the residence where I stayed. Then you will know the truth."
Bu Eunseol bit his lip. In the end, to give him information that would help him, Jin Seol had abandoned her life and returned to Majeon.
'Everything is my fault.'
Bu Eunseol wore a pained expression.
What if he had not conveyed such a truth to Jin Seol?
She would have been living peacefully as the Majeon Flower, without having to know the cruel truth.
"May I touch your cheek?"
Then Jin Seol spoke in a trembling voice.
"Since I cannot see your face, I want to feel it at least with my hands."
Her cheeks had turned red as she felt shy.
Even though she was facing death, one could guess how much she had hesitated and how much courage she had gathered to say those words.
"Lady Jin."
Bu Eunseol could finally feel how much Jin Seol loved him.
Inside those cold and cynical eyes, she had hidden a burning affection and longing like the sun all along.
"Of course."
With a trembling hand, he took Jin Seol's two hands and brought them to his own cheek.
"Why are you crying?"
Hot tears were flowing from Bu Eunseol's eyes.
It was guilt for not being able to protect Jin Seol, and it was resentment toward himself for knowing her feelings all this time but not accepting them.
"Do not feel sorry."
Unlike her usual cold appearance, Jin Seol spoke in a warm and gentle voice.
"Did you not always treat my lacking self well? It is just that I was greedy beyond my station."
"Lady Jin."
"Now that I listen, your voice is quite pleasant to hear." Jin Seol harbored a faint smile. "In the past, I thought it was so cold and emotionless..."
It was a voice she had always thought was emotionless and cold, but only now could she understand.
He was merely dense about his own emotions.
To others, he had always given deep concern and consideration.
Koorong, paaaaa.
At that moment, vibrations echoed from all directions, and about a hundred martial artists landed from the air. Following the previous group, additional forces had arrived here.
They were none other than the experts of the Geuklim Pavilion.
"You..."
Jin Seol, facing death, made a heartfelt confession in her blind state.
“I truly liked you.”
And those became her final words.
Bu Eunseol bowed his head as he closed Jin Seol's blankly staring eyes.
Thinking back, it was a long relationship that gained strength.
During his days as a member of the Ten Demon Warriors, he had come to Majeon for a trial of five stances. She had assisted Jeok Bung, who was in a pleasant mood.
'Even back then, I did not know that this happy relationship of those days would continue.'
Since then, Jin Seol had all along unburdened her feelings of yearning toward Bu Eunseol, but because of her strong pride, she could accept the reality that she could not love Bu Eunseol.
In the end, she was engaged to Shim Wol, who seemed to love her. However, he was only trying to use her.
This led both Jin Seol and Shim Wol to make the wrong decisions. One fell into the irreversible path of self-destruction, and one fell into the swamp of unerasable wealth. After that, Jin Seol left her position as the Majeon Flower, and turned away as if turning her back on the world.
She knew that her feelings toward Bu Eunseol were sincere, but there was something she could do. Unlike other women, she was in a position where she could not experience hardships to abandon.
"What did I do to deserve your affection?"
Bu Eunseol did not dislike Jin Seol either.
What if he had not come to the martial world for his grandfather's revenge?
Perhaps when they first met, he might have fallen for her.
The face of Jin Seol he first saw when he regained consciousness after suffering severe injuries… She was like an angel descended from heaven.
However, back then, he was consumed by a desire for revenge and forced himself to suppress his personal emotions.
After that, Yeop Hyocheon had advocated for a marriage between Bu Eunseol and Jin Seol, using her status as a reason.
It aroused resentment toward Jin Seol for no reason.
As time passed, the hearts of the two people crossed and missed each other, and in the end, they were never able to reach each other. Bu Eunseol could never open his heart to her.
"If only you had been an ordinary woman..."
The boy who wandered through all the abysses.
The flower of the Demonic Path who was as noble as ice.
If it weren’t for the blood and hatred, they could have recognized each others’ souls. A massive vortex of fate had torn the two apart, leaving them separated by a river of tragedy they could never cross.
They ended up facing each other as mirrors of cruel fate.
"I want you..."
But Jin Seol could not hear his words. Her body was already turning cold.
But Eunseol kept talking to her so that she, who had already passed, could hear him.
“Martial Soul Command Lord.”
At that moment, Jwa Myeongji, the palace master of Geuklim Pavilion who was waiting in the distance, approached and spoke.
"She is a traitor who refused to accept her punishment and extended her poisonous hands to kill the martial artists of our palace."
Without even looking at Jwa Pyeongji, Bu Eunseol asked in a low voice.
"Are you all also part of the Lord of Majeon's secret organization."
"That is correct." The martial artist who stepped forward bowed with a confident expression. "I am Jwa Pyeongji, the pavilion master of Geuklim Pavilion, who is pursuing the traitor."
And he said coldly.
"If you take actions that aid the traitor, you will not be able to maintain your position as the successor of this palace."
"Successor."
A hollow expression appeared on Bu Eunseol's face.
"The successor of Majeon..."
To exact his revenge, he entered Majeon and became one of the Ten Demon Warriors, and later became the successor of Majeon. It was all to acquire the intelligence organization he so desperately wanted in order to pursue Hongsu.
But as a result, he ended up losing countless people. All because of that position as the successor of Majeon.
"That is correct. Are you not the next palace master of our palace?"
Jwa Pyeongji said, curling the corners of his mouth upward.
"You have many enemies. Only by maintaining that position can you preserve your life under the shadow of this palace, can you not?"
Ordinarily, no matter if someone belonged to the secret organization of Majeon.
They would never have dared to utter such arrogant and disrespectful words to Bu Eunseol's face.
However, after forcing the Hwa Wu Sword Sect and the Extinction Palace to close their gates, the Demonic Path's support for the Martial Soul Command Lord had dropped drastically.
Not only that, but a subordinate of the Vajra Demon Ancestor had appeared before him while he was having a private audience with the Demon Emperor. The rumor that the subordinate declared he would definitely kill Bu Eunseol had spread widely among the secret organizations. He had lost the support of the people of the Demonic Path, and now he had even helped Jin Seol, who had become a traitor...
They judged that everything was over for him.
Trickle.
Suddenly, Jwa Pyeongji's body collapsed, melting into a handful of bloody water.
Bu Eunseol had once again unleashed the power of the Ultimate Poison Star to instantly decompose his body.
Trickle, trickle.
Terrifyingly, that blood began to flow beneath the feet of the waiting Geuklim Pavilion martial artists.
"Martial Soul Command Lord, have you lost your mind?"
The martial artists of Geuklim Pavilion shouted loudly.
They had no intention of fighting Bu Eunseol; they had merely intended to retrieve Jin Seol's corpse and return to Majeon.
No matter how provocative Jwa Pyeongji's words were, to instantly turn a direct subordinate of the Demon Emperor into bloody water?!
"Do you not know that if things turn out this way, you will die as well?"
The secret organization of the Demon Emperor is equivalent to the Demon Emperor himself.
For no other reason than destroying the Biwolsa organization that risked their lives to attack him, did he not receive the Life or Death Command?
If they were to provoke them, even the Martial Soul Command Lord would never be safe.
"The position of successor..."
A blood-red light flickered in Bu Eunseol's eyes.
"I shall decline it from my side."
He had grown sick of it.
Fathoming the intentions of the Demon Emperor.
He had grown fearful.
Terrified of when his subordinates might be killed at the hands of the Demon Emperor.
He had grown disgusted.
Disgusted with his own self, who drove Jin Seol to her death and failed to save her...
"Command Lord, those words are also treason against the Demon Emperor. Do you understand?!"
Despite their shouts, Bu Eunseol stood still with a blank expression.
The martial artists of Geuklim Pavilion realized this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and exchanged glances.
Paaaat!
They formed ranks and began to pour attacks onto Bu Eunseol.
But that was a mistake.
They should have left quietly without provoking Bu Eunseol.
They should have fled quickly while he was hanging his head in sorrow.
Paaat! Drip, drop.
Before even half a quarter of an hour had passed.
All the Geuklim Pavilion martial artists who had surrounded the area turned into bloody water, forming pools of blood. Regardless of that, Bu Eunseol only stared at Jin Seol.
"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have died."
He felt a deep sense of guilt.
"I did something unnecessary and drove you to your death."
What if he hadn't told her Ji Shuryeon's story?
What if he hadn't told her that her memories were manipulated?
Jin Seol would have worked under the Demon Emperor, handling the affairs of the Majeon Flower, and lived a peaceful life until now.
But because of his clumsy consideration, and because of his arrogance in thinking he was doing it for her sake, he shattered her peaceful daily life.
And caused her to suspect and investigate the Demon Emperor.
"It would have been better to let her live inside a happy illusion..."
Bu Eunseol, who had been staring at the distant sky, picked up Jin Seol and floated into the air.
Although it was far too late, he intended to take her to her mother even now.
Drip, drop.
Cutting wood to quickly fashion a coffin, Bu Eunseol laid her to rest inside.
Raoooo!
Becoming a streak of light that cut through the clear sky, Bu Eunseol headed toward Mount Changbai, where Ji Shuryeon was located.
Lest her mortal remains be damaged, he rushed forward swiftly while deploying his Protective True Qi.
How long did he run?
He finally arrived at Mount Changbai.
In the past, Bu Eunseol had passed through a narrow rocky cave he accidentally discovered here. There, he discovered a deep valley that held a mysterious, hidden paradise.
'It has become even more beautiful.'
The moment he stepped out from the darkness of the cave, a clean and refreshing energy, incomparable to the murky air of the secular world, enveloped his entire body.
Exotic flowers and grass of every color were in full bloom everywhere, and tall trees bearing mysterious fruits stood towering in various places. Faint golden patterns were engraved on their surfaces, making it seem as if one bite would grant a miraculous spiritual energy.
At the heart of the valley sat a grandly flowing waterfall.
The waterfall, pouring down with a thunderous roar, formed a deep blue pond, and white spray rose around it like mist.
Valley of Eternal Spring.
On a large stone near the entrance path, words carved with a sword were inscribed.
It was precisely Soyo's handwriting.
It seemed that while staying with Ji Shuryeon, they had given this valley such a name.
Swish.
Having entered the interior, Bu Eunseol headed toward the stone house where Ji Shuryeon resided without any delay.
In the past, it had a gloomy color and only possessed the function of a house. Now, it was brightly decorated, and a small pavilion and a pond had been built in front of it.
This, too, seemed to have been decorated by Soyo for Ji Shuryeon.
"What brings you here."
Fortunately, as soon as Bu Eunseol arrived, Ji Shuryeon noticed his visit and slowly walked out of the stone house.
Her gaze, unlike before, had become clear and sharp. It seemed her madness had been almost completely cured while staying with Soyo. Instead of answering, Bu Eunseol politely bowed to Ji Shuryeon.
Then, he quietly set down the coffin and spoke in a sorrowful voice.
"Would you mind checking it once?"
Catching the meaning behind his words, Ji Shuryeon's eyes trembled violently as she looked at the coffin.
"Are you saying you found my daughter?"
Bu Eunseol could not answer.
Bringing back a dead corpse, could he really say he had found her?
Ji Shuryeon stared intently at Bu Eunseol's expression, and then her body shook.
"Are you saying that child is dead?"
Instead of answering, Bu Eunseol stepped aside so that Ji Shuryeon could check the inside of the coffin.
With trembling hands, she opened the coffin.
After staring at Jin Seol's face for a long time,
"It really is you."
She began to shed clear tears.
Human instinct is truly mysterious.
Even though she saw the child she had lost as an infant now appearing as an adult.
She could clearly recognize that this was her own offspring.
"Who killed this child?"
Ji Shuryeon perceived that Jin Seol's body was not only covered in blood, but that she had met a tragic death after greatly exhausting her true strength.
She screamed in a desperate voice.
"Who on earth killed this child?!"
"It is because of me."
Bu Eunseol lowered his head.
"She died because of me."
"Nonsense!"
Ji Shuryeon grabbed Bu Eunseol's collar and cried out agonizingly.
"Speak truthfully! Who exactly killed this child!"
"The Demon Emperor."
After a period of silence, Bu Eunseol spoke painfully.
"Consequentially, he is the one who killed her."
Ji Shuryeon did not look surprised and nodded calmly.
She was the precious child she had searched for her entire life. Since he killed such a child... even if it were the King of the Underworld instead of the supreme master of the Demonic Path, revenge had to be taken.
"Then, I shall take my leave."
Bu Eunseol bowed once more.
"I am sorry to deliver such painful news."
Just as Ji Shuryeon knit her brows and was about to speak,
Swish!
A gentle breeze blew around the valley, and a small shadow landed from the sky near the thatched cottage.
Having received Ji Shuryeon's orders, Soyo, who had been practicing her qinggong nearby, had returned.
"You're planning to go to Majeon, aren't you?"
Soyo ran toward Bu Eunseol.
The moment she entered the valley, she had heard the conversation between Bu Eunseol and Ji Shuryeon.
Judging by that alone, one could surmise how much her qinggong and martial prowess had increased during that time.
"You mustn't go."
"You don't need to concern yourself." Bu Eunseol spoke calmly as he looked at Soyo. "Stay here and help Senior Ji take care of the arrangements."
Soyo had followed Bu Eunseol like a shadow for a long time. Therefore, she could tell what he was thinking just by looking at his expression.
"You're intending to go demand answers from the Demon Emperor about this matter."
"Such an act itself is a challenge. You can't."
"He is not a god." Bu Eunseol said coldly. "If I cannot even hold him accountable for something like this, there is no reason for me to remain in Majeon."
"Then I want to go with you."
"You cannot." Bu Eunseol shook his head. "If you are there, should anything happen, you will instead become a weakness."
"It's fine, I've become stronger."
Soyo said confidently.
"I absolutely won't be a burden."
In the past, no matter how much her martial arts and qinggong had grown, she was somewhat lacking to fight against the masters of the world.
However, under Ji Shuryeon's guidance, she had attained a sudden enlightenment.
Not only her qinggong but her martial prowess had also risen drastically.
"Still, you cannot."
Bu Eunseol spoke firmly.
"This is an order."
"I understand."
Looking into Bu Eunseol's eyes, which looked like a fire blazing within ice, Soyo nodded as if she had no choice.
Because she knew all too well that once he made a decision, he would never change his mind.
If he were to die...
She would simply handle all the remaining matters herself and then follow him in death.
"Why are you the one trying to demand answers from that man?"
At that moment, Ji Shuryeon, who had been listening quietly, asked as if she found it strange.
"What was your relationship with my daughter?"
"We were good friends."
"Friends?"
"Yes. A friend to whom I owe a debt of heart."
Ji Shuryeon knit her brows and shook her head.
"If that is the case, do not step forward. This matter is something I, her mother, must do.”
“But her death was because of me."
"What do you mean?"
Bu Eunseol continued to speak with a pained expression.
"I swayed her heart. She could have lived well if I had just left her alone... but with the arrogant thought of letting her know the truth, I ruined her life."
"What on earth does that mean?"
Bu Eunseol calmly explained.
He told her how he had conveyed to Jin Seol that her biological mother might be alive, and also that the Demon Emperor had erased her memories.
He recounted everything in detail.
Listening silently, Ji Shuryeon realized something and let out a sigh.
"This means the child liked you."
When Bu Eunseol could not say anything, she shook her head.
"If it is out of guilt, that is enough."
And she said firmly.
"Avenging a child is something a parent must do."
"It is something I must do."
A blood-red light flickered in Bu Eunseol's eyes.
"If only to protect my subordinates."
He had been contemplating this for a long time.
When would he ever be able to surpass the strength of the Demon Emperor?
How long would that take?
In the meantime, would his subordinates die or fall into his schemes?
Only then did he realize.
Time was not on his side.
'The Demon Emperor shows signs of touching my people once again.'
He could not remain in Majeon while feeling anxious indefinitely. He could not just bide his time for the sake of achieving perfection. Therefore, he had made this resolution a long time ago.
'Let us settle this in a life-or-death confrontation alone with him.'
Bu Eunseol was now intending to carry out his will, even if it meant risking a clash with the Demon Emperor.
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