Swaaassh!
From behind Bu Eunseol, true energy blades formed into sharp shapes surged up, and then,
Swaaassh!
Drew a massive circle in an instant.
He had deployed the Ignorance True Binding to sever the masked men's necks in a single stroke.
But a bizarre thing occurred.
Vwoom, vwoom.
Even though their necks were clearly severed, they did not die and were instead emitting light from their bodies?
Grasping the situation, Tak Ilhon shouted.
"It seems they possess abilities similar to the Stacked-Pupil People."
The Stacked-Pupil People, called the worst monsters of the martial world, seemingly exist individually on the outside but in reality are bound as a single life.
Therefore, even if the majority falls, as long as a single one remains alive, the life of the whole is not severed.
In the past, the Heavenly Demon Emperor had nurtured these Stacked-Pupil People, endlessly pursuing and annihilating the survivors of the Essence Three Realms in Tibet.
But now, those presumed to be the forces of the Three Families had restored a similar secret art to rear a military force.
Step, step.
As if trying to maximize fear, they were slowly walking over with their pale blue eyes flashing.
Seeing that, Tak Ilhon cautiously advised.
"Since they cannot be killed all at once, let us retreat for now and dispose of them in one breath with the forces of the Death Spirit Corps."
No matter how incredible a master Bu Eunseol was, having reached an extraordinary realm.
They each held different postures, were at various distances, and were masters capable of facing even those in the Heavenly Realm.
Killing over forty such masked men simultaneously, without a single inch of error, was extremely difficult.
Vwoom.
At that moment, a pure white light flashed in Bu Eunseol's eyes.
Trickle, trickle.
At the same time, his entire body was transforming into a pitch-black shadow, like a ghost from a nightmare.
Poison Saint.
He was unleashing the fearsome authority of the Poison Emperor, which he had constantly kept suppressed, to the point of being ruthlessly poisonous and wicked.
Sizzle.
White smoke billowed from the entire bodies of the masked men.
Without even needing to use martial arts formidably, he was instantly melting the bodies of the forty-plus masked men.
"......!"
Realizing they had been poisoned, the masked men attempted to attack immediately, but.
Sluuurp.
Both their arms and legs began to melt and turn mushy.
Rumblllle.
The appearance of Bu Eunseol with eyes burning like a pair of deathly ghost lanterns within the black shape was the very embodiment of primordial terror that humans dared not face.
Stagger, stagger.
Eventually, the masked men, reduced to thin shapes,
Swaaa.
Became a handful of blood water, creating a small puddle.
"......."
Even Tak Ilhon, who had gone through all sorts of hardships in the martial world, swallowed dryly.
To turn the masked men, whom he had to unleash the Life-Reaving Soul-Chase with all his might to strike down, into blood water without lifting a single finger?
'He is very angry.'
Bu Eunseol used poison as little as possible.
Because poison heavily mutilates corpses.
As a mortician, he valued the eternal rest of the deceased more than anything else, and after experiencing his grandfather's corpse being stolen, that conviction had become even firmer.
Yet to use poison without hesitation to instantly melt the corpses...... one could guess just how furious he was that he and Soho had been hurt.
"Um, do we not need to find out who is behind them?"
At that moment, Soho cautiously spoke to Tak Ilhon.
"Because they did not seem like an ordinary martial faction."
Tak Ilhon saw that Soho not only showed no fear even after witnessing the power of the Poison Saint.
Seeing him calmly grasp the situation as well, he opened his mouth with an expression finding him admirable.
"The Three Families and the Three Realms have countermeasures against not only the Mind-Seizing Secret Art but also the Mental Realm. If it could be revealed through interrogation, we would have uncovered their main base long ago."
Soho did not yet know the terms Three Families or Three Realms, but he roughly grasped the meaning and nodded.
"I...... see."
But while answering, Soho suddenly staggered and collapsed.
The journey to save Seulgae thus far had been so arduous and harsh that even trained martial artists would struggle to endure it.
Furthermore, he had been holding out while suffering severe internal injuries from being exposed to the Starfire Blood-Chains just moments ago.
With all danger gone and his tension released, he finally collapsed.
"He has suffered internal injuries."
Float.
As Bu Eunseol reached out his hand, Soho's body floated into the empty air.
"Not only his aptitude, but he is a child with incredible loyalty and courage."
Tak Ilhon spoke proudly, as if boasting about a grandson.
"Not only did he risk his life to save his friend, but just before, he even blocked the front to protect this old body."
"I roughly heard the story from Soyo while coming here."
Vwoom.
As Bu Eunseol began to use his internal energy in earnest, a white light began to seep from Soho's body.
"He hasn't cultivated martial arts, but he diligently cultivated the internal energy mental method."
Examining his body with the Cheonui Heart Secret.
He discerned that Soho had diligently cultivated the mental method taught by Woo Kyung, and was prepared to contain a vast amount of internal energy.
Vwooom.
The pure Ban-Geuk true energy seemed to fill his dantian, then descended to the Huiyin acupoint, passed the tailbone again, and traveled up the spine along his back.
Finally, it surged up to the Baihui acupoint, the top of the head behind his back.
Three Passes of the Back.
It had instantly pierced through the three gates on his back: the Tailbone Gate, Spinal Gate, and Jade Pillow acupoint.
The Ban-Geuk true energy descended again through his forehead to his face, and through the roof of his mouth and tip of his tongue connecting the governor vessel and conception vessel.
Passed through Soho's neck and chest and descended back to the dantian.
Vwoom!
Before long, a subtle radiance arose from Soho's face, and......
Even without Bu Eunseol's help, the true energy within his body was circulating on its own, endlessly, along the Ren and Du meridians.
The essential condition to enter as a super-transcendent martial artist capable of making a name in the martial world.
He had pierced the Ren and Du meridians.
'He is indeed worthy of Protector Tak's endless praise.'
Bu Eunseol originally only intended to inject enough internal energy to sort out Soho's terribly tangled energy and blood.
But his aptitude far exceeded expectations, and he accepted the Ban-Geuk true energy frugally without rejecting a single drop.
Ultimately, he generously injected the Ban-Geuk true energy, helping him pierce the Ren and Du meridians.
"Command Lord."
Soho, opening his eyes again, prostrated himself flatly.
He realized that Bu Eunseol had even consumed his own true energy.
To help him manage his body.
"I thank you for your grace as vast as the river and sea."
"Rise."
"I have a request."
Soho took out the small flying dagger from his bosom and prostrated himself on the floor again.
It was the very flying dagger Black Leopard had given him.
"It is Black Leopard."
As Bu Eunseol, discovering the pattern engraved on the flying dagger, nodded,
"That is correct. He said that only you, Command Lord, under heaven could break the Mind-Seizing Secret Art placed upon Seulgae."
Continuing his words, Soho only then.
Realized that Black Leopard, who was near the Jade Gate Pass, was in danger and spoke urgently.
"Great Hero Black Leopard is in danger. Please, I beg you to help him."
"Black Leopard is?"
"That is correct. When I reached the Jade Gate Pass with the help of Great Hero Namgung, I coincidentally met him."
"Great Hero Namgung?"
"I mean the young master of the Namgung family, Great Hero Namgung Un."
Soho briefly explained the circumstances of meeting Namgung Un and Black Leopard.
Listening silently, Bu Eunseol wore a peculiar smile and nodded.
"In the end, it means Namgung Un and Black Leopard sent you to me."
Bu Eunseol shook his head with a smile.
"Namgung Un and Black Leopard, those two can easily protect themselves in any situation, so there is no need to worry."
"Do you know the two of them well?"
As Soho was greatly surprised, Tak Ilhon smiled and said.
"They are both sworn brothers of the Command Lord."
Soho wore a dumbfounded expression.
To think that the Mercenary King, whose name resounded throughout the world, and Namgung Un, the Hidden Dragon of the Namgung family, were both sworn brothers of Bu Eunseol?
If he had known that they had followed Bu Eunseol on his martial world journeys and developed their martial arts?
He would have jumped in surprise.
"Is it alright to just casually tell him such stories? This child is still just an information mercenary of the Death Spirit Corps."
At Bu Eunseol's words, Tak Ilhon shrugged his shoulders, and then,
"He is not an information mercenary of the Death Spirit Corps, but this old subject's disciple."
Looking at Soho with loving eyes, he patted his head.
"If it is this child, he will be able to master the essence of this old subject's martial arts within ten years."
"I understand your intention, but isn't Protector Tak the Protector leading the Death Shadow Corps and the pillar of the Death Spirit Corps?"
The composition and personnel of the Death Spirit Corps are top-secret matters of the Death Shadow Corps, known only to Bu Eunseol and a few captains.
If Tak Ilhon were to raise a disciple, he would have no choice but to either quit his duties at the Death Shadow Corps or raise Soho as a martial artist of the Death Shadow Corps.
In the latter case, he would inevitably have to come into contact with the Death Spirit Corps.
"How about taking a brief rest from work at this opportunity? If you do that, there will be great results not in ten years, but even within three years."
Tak Ilhon is an indispensable figure in the Death Shadow Corps.
But so that Soho, whose future was bright, could become a free martial artist of the martial world rather than a bloody martial artist of the Death Spirit Corps or Death Shadow Corps.
He was being considerate of the two so that Tak Ilhon wouldn't feel burdened in raising a disciple.
"I apologize."
At that moment, Soho said unexpected words.
"I do not think I can become your disciple, Sir."
Tak Ilhon wore a bitter expression.
"Do you think this old man is unqualified to be your master?"
Soho had seen peerless prodigies like Namgung Un and Black Leopard walking their own paths.
He thought that Soho had naturally come to admire the two and was trying to follow in their footsteps.
"Those two were also able to walk alone because they served excellent masters."
Seeing Tak Ilhon's disappointed expression, Soyo said.
"The young master Namgung had a strict master in Namgung Jeong, and Black Leopard also found his path after inheriting the Command Lord's martial arts."
Soho was still young, and had gone through too many things this time.
Also, since Bu Eunseol had shown invincible divine might, he thought Tak Ilhon might have appeared somewhat weak.
"No, that is not what I mean."
Soho waved both hands.
"It is not that you are lacking, Sir, but that I am lacking. More than anything......."
He scratched his head and said.
"If I become your disciple, Sir, there will be no one to take care of Seulgae."
At Soho's innocence, Tak Ilhon and Soyo both chuckled simultaneously.
"Do you really think we would just leave your friend be?"
"But Seulgae hurt his knee and cannot learn martial arts."
Soyo approached Soho and spoke in an indifferent yet affectionate voice.
"Do not worry. The Command Lord will heal him cleanly."
"Really?"
As Soho, who had been prostrating, raised his head and beamed, Soyo lightly patted his head instead of answering.
As if saying, 'You have suffered greatly all this time.'
'She seems to have taken a liking to Soho.'
During missions, Soyo does not speak unnecessary words.
But seemingly having taken a liking to Soho, she seemed to have spoken affectionately.
"Thank you, Madam!"
Soho bowed his head once again and prostrated.
And prostrated again to Tak Ilhon and Bu Eunseol as well.
"Thank you. Command Lord, Master."
Float.
At that moment, Soho's body was raised on its own.
Bu Eunseol had used his internal energy to raise his body.
"Since you have become Protector Tak's disciple, you must not kneel carelessly from now on."
Tak Ilhon is of the same generation as the current abbot of Shaolin. Since he had become his direct disciple, his generation in the hierarchy would naturally rise as well.
Soho respectfully offered a greeting with a dignified posture.
"I will keep that in mind."
Nod.
Nodding his head, Bu Eunseol used his internal energy again to bring Seulgae, who was sleeping inside the formation, and examined him.
'This is on a level that far surpasses the Mind-Seizing Secret Arts of the current martial world.'
Bu Eunseol's expression turned serious.
Even though he had grasped the essence of the Pavilion Master's Illusion Upon Illusion, it was strictly only a part of it.
The master who could break the mighty Mind-Seizing Secret Art placed upon Seulgae was...... as said, truly only Ak Muryeong.
Swaaaa.
At that moment, numerous black shadows began descending here one after another.
They were the Death Spirit Corps members who had come after receiving the emergency signal.
"Keep this well."
Bu Eunseol returned Black Leopard's flying dagger to Soho.
"It seems Black Leopard gave it to you as a talisman."
Soho wore a shy smile.
He had been called a young friend by Black Leopard, whom numerous renowned heroes of the world admired.
Having received his dagger as a gift, his heart swelled with pride anew.
"You have suffered greatly all this time."
As Bu Eunseol patted his shoulder to reassure him, Soho's heart felt touched.
The words of the Martial Soul Command Lord, who commands the world, are heavier than anything else, and that promise is absolutely fulfilled.
Since he had firmly promised......
Seulgae would definitely wake up again.
* * *
The depths of the Martial Soul Society, Absolute Domain.
Except for those permitted by the Martial Soul Society Leader.
In this place where absolutely no one else could enter, an unprecedented event in the history of the martial world was taking place.
The leaders and strategists of the intelligence organizations of the demonic path, the orthodox faction, and the space between the orthodox and demonic paths were gathered in one place and holding a meeting.
The strategist of the Death Shadow Corps, Yoo Unryong, and the Crystal Guard Captain, Mu Heon.
The Chief Steward of the Azure Sky Alliance, Gongsun Dankyung, and the Red Star Rake, Tae Muryong.
The military strategist of the Martial Soul Society, Dam Yuyeon, and the General Manager, Yoo Hwaryeong.
This was an unprecedented meeting of the Orthodox, Demonic, and Intermediate factions in the martial world.
"It was the Jungson family."
Mu Heon spoke with a serious expression.
"They have been toying with the martial world and kidnapping children while changing the name of the troupe countless times over generations."
Led by the Death Spirit Corps Captain Mu Heon, as a result of the intelligence organizations of the Orthodox, Demonic, and Intermediate factions closely investigating the White Snow Troupe incident.
They had uncovered the shocking mastermind.
The Jungson family.
The Jungson family, one of the legendary Three Families that had continuously maintained their lineage in secret.
Was the White Snow Troupe. No, it was revealed that they had maintained their lineage by constantly changing their name.
"If it were not for that child, Soho...... if it were not for the young master Namgung and the Mercenary King, we would not have uncovered this fact for the rest of our lives."
No matter how compassionate a renowned hero of the martial world was.
There was no one who would risk their life repeatedly fleeing and pursuing beyond the frontier to rescue a crippled beggar.
But Soho risked his life and adventured during that long journey for his friend.
And Namgung Un and Black Leopard also risked their lives to help at the request of a vagrant they did not even know.
Because of that, they finally discovered the true body of the Jungson family, which had been hidden in secrecy for generations.
"We cannot leave out the contribution of the Death Spirit Corps member, Woo Kyung, either."
It was thanks to the signal flare given by Woo Kyung that Soho gained the conviction and confidence that he could save Seulgae.
At that moment, Tae Muryong said.
"In the end, they are the Command Lord's people."
At those words, everyone present smiled.
The ones who reached out a hand to Soho, who was a simple beggar, were Bu Eunseol's people.
In the end, the connections he gained in the martial world became one, enabling them to uncover the secret of the Jungson family among the Three Families of the martial world.
"But it is unbelievable."
At that moment, Dam Yuyeon spoke cautiously.
"To think that the true body of the legendary Jungson family, passed down for generations, is a wandering troupe roaming the world of the Central Plains."
Everyone present nodded.
The Jungson family are those who possess immense power and military force as one of the Three Families of the martial world.
To think that such people were practically vagabonds, wandering the Central Plains martial world as a wandering troupe to maintain their lineage?
If they had not discovered the true nature of the Jungson family through Soho's matter?
Their true nature would have been difficult to uncover even after a hundred years.
"What about that child, Seulgae?"
"Thanks to the Arang Plaque the Command Lord gave, it was resolved easily."
At Bu Eunseol's question, Mu Heon answered with an embarrassed expression.
"Of course, the Pavilion Master shouted so loudly that Iron Staff Mountain seemed to fly away."
Due to Ak Muryeong's personality, it was highly unlikely that he would use his power to wake Seulgae, who was not even a disciple of Nangyang Pavilion.
If it were in the past, Bu Eunseol would have personally visited and explained the situation to Ak Muryeong for a long time and bowed his head, but.
Without a long word, he just suddenly presented the Arang Plaque.
―Is this guy already acting as the Pavilion Master!
Forgetting that he was the one who gave him the Arang Plaque,
―This is all because you guys did not instill proper discipline!
The greatly enraged Ak Muryeong.
Caught and scolded the captains who were close to Bu Eunseol, including the Vice Pavilion Master Dan Cheong...... like catching mice for a while.
"Ahem."
As an awkward silence flowed, Mu Heon cleared his throat and continued speaking.
"Seulgae was accepted as a disciple of Nangyang Pavilion. Gang Un took charge of his training."
Ak Muryeong grasped that Seulgae's aptitude was not only extraordinary but also optimal for mastering the Mind-Seizing Secret Art.
After fixing Seulgae's ruined knee using a spirit medicine, he accepted him as a disciple of Nangyang Pavilion.
Furthermore, Gang Un is a prodigy with outstanding skills among the young disciples of Nangyang Pavilion, having personally studied the internal energy mental method under Ak Muryeong.
Having inherited martial arts from the best young rookie of Nangyang Pavilion, Seulgae will become a pillar supporting the martial world in the future.
"Soho has entered as a formal disciple of the Protector and begun training in earnest to become a member of the main corps."
Soho possessed outstanding aptitude as an information mercenary.
He became Tak Ilhon's disciple while simultaneously being accepted as a member of the Death Spirit Corps.
And the one most delighted by that fact was Woo Kyung.
As he, who possessed outstanding abilities even among the Death Spirit Corps members, was determinedly training Soho...... he will soon show proper active duty as a Death Spirit Corps member.
"Then let us begin the discussion on handling the Jungson family."
Bu Eunseol's eyes flashed.
Having finally found the main base of the Three Families, the Jungson family, which no one had found until now...... he was preparing to bring it down.
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