At that moment, Princess Hwijeong realized it.
She had just witnessed the most beautiful dance in the world and etched into her heart the name of a man she would never forget for the rest of her life.
'What am I thinking.'
While she shook her head,
Clack.
As their long spears broke, the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry combined another long spear they had been carrying on their backs.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Meanwhile, the Silent Tiger Soul Sword began to carve through the empty air as smoothly as a butterfly's fluttering wings and as elegantly as a plucked zither string.
Then the hands of the martial artists trembled, and the spears they held began to vibrate.
"He is using a demonic art!"
Vwoom, vwoom, vwoom!
Believing that Bu Eunseol was employing a demonic art, the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry unleashed the Imperial Palace Armory's Law-Breaking Absolute Art.
Swooosh!
Perhaps it worked, for dozens of spear tips finally pierced through the domain of emptiness and rushed toward Bu Eunseol and Princess Hwijeong.
Clang!
The sword lightly stroked the empty air once more.
A single spear aimed at the princess's heart suddenly lost all its power and plummeted to the ground.
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
When Bu Eunseol gently pushed his sword forward, six or seven spears simultaneously faltered backward as if pushed away by a massive wind pressure.
The deadly spear arts unleashed desperately by some thirty golden cavalrymen lost their way with every single gesture of Bu Eunseol's hand and crashed into one another or ricocheted in entirely wrong directions.
'My destructive power is weak.'
Since he had no strength left in his body, all Bu Eunseol could do was push the spears away or deflect the spear's astral energy.
'In that case.'
Vwoom, vwoom, vwoom!
As if to unleash their spear astral energy with full force, the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry spun their spear shafts rapidly and gathered their true energy.
But right then,
Boom!
Suddenly, accompanied by a loud explosion,
"Aaaagh!"
a wretched scream rang out.
When Bu Eunseol extended the Silent Tiger Soul Sword, the steel spear shafts they were swinging suddenly bent like taffy before shattering and exploding into pieces.
He had expanded the domain of emptiness and forced the spear shafts they were swinging with all their might to violently clash against one another.
"Uuugh."
Those fragments had all embedded themselves around their eyes.
Although they survived, the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry were blinded in both eyes and screaming in agony.
Fwip!
At that moment, a red shadow landed on the ground with the sound of tearing air.
Wearing crimson armor that covered him from head to toe and a dark red cape fluttering behind him, he looked like a hellfire painted in human form.
It was none other than the Chiliarch of the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry.
The Red Blood Ghost, Gwak Un.
The massive Black Cloud Spear in his hand, measuring one jang and two cheok, was dyed red as if it had soaked up blood, and a bizarre power swirled around it and swallowed the surrounding light.
"Indeed, you possess the skill to escort the princess alone."
He was not particularly surprised even though Bu Eunseol had single-handedly defeated over a hundred of the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry.
"Princess."
Gwak Un offered a light bow and spoke.
"Please return now."
Clack.
Bu Eunseol stood beside Princess Hwijeong with the Silent Tiger Soul Sword raised to a middle guard.
At that moment, Gwak Un's eyes flashed.
"If you step forward any further, you will die."
"Try it."
When Bu Eunseol leisurely lowered his sword to the ground,
Crrraaaash―!
Accompanied by the sound of the earth being kicked, a red meteor charged toward Bu Eunseol.
He had taken merely a single step, yet the distance of a dozen jang had been closed.
Kwaboom!
A massive torrent scattering death poured forth from the Black Cloud Spear.
The spear tip was striking down at fatal acupoints such as the heart, neck, and glabella from various different angles.
An ordinary master would have either frozen in place under the crushing momentum of that overwhelming barrage, or, even if they dodged, they would have lost their balance and inevitably surrendered their momentum.
However, Bu Eunseol maintained a posture of motion within stillness with calm eyes.
Right before the spear tip could pierce his neck,
Fwip!
Bu Eunseol's upper body twisted by half, and blood splattered from his flank.
Among the twelve spear strikes, the true attack was the single blow aimed at his heart.
Whirl!
The spear that had cleaved the empty air while grazing his flank drew a semicircle in the air once more and thrust toward Bu Eunseol's glabella.
But when Bu Eunseol stepped aside by half a pace, the attack missed in vain.
His movements were like flowing water, unpredictable like leaves scattering in the wind.
He did not possess explosive speed like Gwak Un, but it was a form of extremely efficient footwork without a single inch of waste.
"Who are you."
Beneath the helmet, Gwak Un's eyebrows shot up.
This was the first time the certain-kill barrage of his Black Cloud Spear had been dismantled so futilely.
"Reveal your identity."
"You have no need to know."
Surging with anger at the cold reply, Gwak Un retrieved his spear and drew a massive semicircle.
It was a fierce horizontal slash that seemed capable of cleaving his waist in two.
At the moment the spear drew its largest trajectory and concentrated its power,
Sshk!
Bu Eunseol's Silent Tiger Soul Sword smoothly dug toward his neck.
It was neither a lightning-fast charge nor a flashy sword dance.
He had merely taken one step forward and thrust his sword straight ahead, yet in an instant, it transformed into a fatal blow that made Gwak Un think of death.
Clang!
A metallic sound that tore at the eardrums echoed across the battlefield.
The tip of Bu Eunseol's sword had not struck Gwak Un's neck, but rather lashed against his spear shaft, which was drawing a circular trajectory.
"Urk!"
Gwak Un desperately gripped his spear.
He hardened his face at the numbing shock transmitted through his palms and forearms.
This shock was not born of physical strength or internal energy, but was an exquisite blow that counter-utilized the pure flow of power, the spear's centrifugal force, and its center of gravity.
With a single clash, Gwak Un's expression, which had been as solemn as a messenger of death, turned pale like that of a loser.
Swoosh.
There was no time to be surprised.
Before he knew it, the Silent Tiger Soul Sword had dug in beneath his neck once again.
"Urgh."
Gwak Un tried to defend in a hurry, but the hands gripping the spear shaft suddenly sank downward.
Reversing Top and Bottom, Shifting Heaven and Altering Force.
Bu Eunseol had used the Sword Venerable's sword art to direct the internal true energy infused into the Black Cloud Spear downward.
Sshk.
At the same time, the sharp sword tip drew a bloody line across his neck.
Bu Eunseol had severed his neck using only pure sword arts, without internal energy or sword astral energy.
Gwak Un finally realized it.
The master before him was a being on an entirely different level from any powerhouse he had faced so far.
"To think such a sword art..."
And that became the final thought he had in his life.
Psshht! Thud.
Gwak Un's severed head ultimately rolled miserably across the ground.
"Are you alright."
Princess Hwijeong approached worriedly at that moment.
Although he had won, Bu Eunseol's body was a complete mess.
In a state where he had been unable to move freely out of fear that she might get injured, he had single-handedly taken down the entire squad of the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry, who were said to be capable of handling thousands of troops, and even defeated the Chiliarch Gwak Un, who could effortlessly strike down powerhouses of the martial world.
"I am fine."
Bu Eunseol waved his hand and spoke.
"Let us quickly leave this place."
Since their tracks had been exposed, additional troops would swarm in again.
Without even having the time to tend to his wounds, Bu Eunseol immediately took the princess and quickly escaped the area.
Fortunately, thanks to his Beastly Force, he could employ a qinggong speed on par with an ordinary martial artist.
However, instead of heading toward the capital, he entered deep into the mountains and lit a fire to take a rest beneath a waterfall where herb gatherers and hunters usually rested.
Unable to understand at all, Princess Hwijeong asked.
"Should we not quickly escape this place before an encirclement is formed?"
"Through this clash, they will have realized that the princess's escort is a mighty master."
"And so?"
"In that case, they know a clumsy encirclement will only be broken through, so they will now attach pursuers with powerful martial prowess."
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath while looking at the distant sky.
"Rather than quickly breaking through, we must take a rest, conserve our strength, and shake them off."
"I see."
Princess Hwijeong put on a gloomy expression when she saw the wounds covering Bu Eunseol's entire body.
"How are your injuries."
When Bu Eunseol turned his head, she was startled and cried out.
"Are you not the escort protecting me? I absolutely did not ask out of concern for you."
"Did anyone say otherwise?"
Feeling as though her unnecessary feelings had been caught, Princess Hwijeong waved her hand.
"Still, you are invincible, so there should be nothing to worry about, right?"
"That is not necessarily true."
Bu Eunseol looked at the distant sky.
"The Empress Dowager has sent a Limitless Realm master in the past. If such powerhouses appear... I will not be able to win in this state."
"Then it cannot be helped."
Princess Hwijeong smiled, revealing her white teeth.
"Then you will have to call out your subordinates, won't you?"
As she spoke excitedly, Bu Eunseol almost let out a hollow laugh.
"Have you still not abandoned that vain hope?"
"Of course."
She spoke shamelessly.
"This Palace is certain. If you stand on the Imperial Father's side, you can defeat all of the Empress Dowager's forces."
When she had first decided to pull Bu Eunseol in, she had only intended to properly utilize his prestige as the successor of Majeon, who received the absolute support of the demonic path.
But upon realizing that he not only possessed outstanding tactics but was also a top-tier master among the super-powerhouses of the current martial world, she became convinced that he was a figure who could overthrow the Empress Dowager.
"I am sorry, but I have no intention of intervening in the Imperial Family's dispute."
"Why? Because you hate intervening in the Imperial Family's affairs?"
"It is not that."
Bu Eunseol's gaze, fixed on the distant sky, sank heavily.
"I have something I absolutely must do."
"Is it the unification of the martial world?"
"The unification of the martial world?"
"Sado Muryeong. Is the unification of the martial world not what that man desires?"
"How did you know?"
When Bu Eunseol wore a somewhat surprised expression, she smiled.
"I have grasped for a long time now that the man is plotting various things for the unification of the martial world."
The Imperial Family not only had a deep grasp of the martial world's trends, but they had also been thoroughly investigating the Heavenly Demon Emperor's whereabouts.
"The Dark Death Soul-Destroying Humans must have been created in preparation for him."
Only then could Bu Eunseol understand.
The reason the Imperial Family had consumed massive expenses and spiritual medicines to create monsters like the Dark Death Soul-Destroying Humans was likely because they felt threatened by the emergence of an unfathomable master like the Heavenly Demon Emperor.
"And the reason you are trying to recruit me must be partly because of the Empress Dowager's affairs... but also to obtain one more playing piece to control a powerhouse like the Heavenly Demon Emperor."
"It makes me afraid to continue this conversation."
Princess Hwijeong shook her head.
"They say Lord Sado looks into people's inner thoughts. Have you mastered such an internal energy as well?"
"Have you not considered that your expression gives it away?"
"Is that so."
She honestly admitted it.
"That is correct. I heard that although you appear to be walking the same path as Lord Sado, you are actually preparing to oppose him."
In an instant, a flash of light passed through Bu Eunseol's eyes.
'There is no way Unryong would convey such a story to Lord Yoo.'
With that single remark, Bu Eunseol could clearly identify who the informant connecting Majeon and the Imperial Family was.
"The Manbak Hall Lord."
Excluding his own subordinates and the Heavenly Demon Emperor, he was the only one under the heavens who knew that Bu Eunseol and the Heavenly Demon Emperor were confronting each other with their lives on the line.
"You have ties with Hall Lord Baek."
"Well."
Princess Hwijeong smiled.
"If you look closely, all the affairs of the martial world are tangled together. To the point that no one can untangle the thread."
Grumble.
Perhaps because her tension had unwound, a loud sound rang out from her stomach.
Originally, Bu Eunseol had ordered dry rations at the inn, but he had been unable to retrieve them due to the sudden battle.
"Please wait a moment."
After surveying the surroundings, he caught a snake and roasted it for her.
If it were him, he would have just eaten it as is, but since it was food meant for a princess in name, he picked some edible wild herbs and offered them alongside it.
"You want me to eat a snake?"
"For those who have entered the mountains to evade pursuit, it is a ration one could not ask for more of."
After deliberating for a moment, she took a big bite of the snake meat.
"This is fine."
Princess Hwijeong opened her eyes wide.
"It is better than I thought? It tastes just like chicken."
She tore through and ate all the snake meat in a flash.
'She truly is different, as expected.'
If she had been an immature princess as the rumors said?
She would not have trained in the imperial secret arts, nor would she have risked her life to become bait for the Empress Dowager.
"You are suffering much because of me."
Noticing Bu Eunseol's staring gaze, she nodded.
"When we return, I shall bestow a great reward upon you."
"Please forget me. That is the greatest reward you can bestow."
Perhaps the Empress Dowager already suspected that he was the escort protecting the princess.
But without clear evidence, she could not touch him rashly.
If the Emperor bestowed a reward upon Bu Eunseol for this contribution?
In that instant, it would be revealed to all the world that he had been the escort this time, and he would end up becoming an irreversible enemy of the Empress Dowager.
"Can we not just send it to you secretly?"
Clearly deducing Princess Hwijeong's dark ulterior motives, Bu Eunseol spoke firmly.
"If you pull such a stunt, I will side with the Empress Dowager."
"Are you serious? You would side with that vicious Empress Dowager?"
"Is there good and evil in the Imperial Family's power struggles?"
Bu Eunseol spoke with a solemn expression.
"I have something I absolutely must do. Do not think of dragging me down like a water ghost with this matter."
At his exceedingly firm words, the princess drooped her shoulders.
"Right, I understand what you mean."
But she added one more remark.
"This Palace does not know the meaning of giving up."
Leaving behind his throbbing headache, Bu Eunseol shook his head.
"Suit yourself."
Once their bodies had recovered to some extent, the two began to move again.
The Empress Dowager relentlessly sent capable pursuers, and battles large and small continued.
They possessed an outstanding strategist, masters of tracking, and mighty troops.
Furthermore, in order to figure out who Bu Eunseol was and grasp his origins, they were constantly investigating the scars on the people he had defeated so far.
However, his sword arts embodied the principle of Form Empty, Mind Distant, transcending the orthodox and unorthodox paths, and because he had reached a realm where he could perfectly conceal his sword forms... such attempts were completely useless.
And on the fifteenth day.
Vwoom.
A mysterious radiance began to spread outward from Bu Eunseol's entire body.
The meridians that had been blocked by the Dark Death Soul-Destroying Humans were opened, and his strength returned.
"It is now time to return."
Float.
Bu Eunseol smiled and levitated Princess Hwijeong into the empty air.
Since all his internal energy and strength had returned, he immediately set off for the capital.
"It is the capital!"
Princess Hwijeong, who was soaring through the sky with Bu Eunseol, let out a cheer when she saw the Imperial City in the distance.
At last, after their hardships, they had returned to the capital.
"You have worked hard."
"Must we go straight away?"
Wrapped in an astral energy barrier, Princess Hwijeong looked at Bu Eunseol, who was flying through the sky like an immortal, and spoke.
"Since we have suffered all this time, can we not at least have a proper meal?"
All Bu Eunseol had eaten during that time was water, pine needles, and the like; he had given all the snakes or edible fruits to her.
"Look. Is it not safe?"
The sun had already set, and night had fallen; countless people were passing by on the streets.
Perhaps because it was the Imperial Capital, its atmosphere was different from that of any other city, and many high-ranking officials and powerful families could be seen.
"Even so, we cannot let our guard down yet."
"Do not worry. The Empress Dowager would not be so brazen as to strike this Palace here."
Princess Hwijeong winked.
"And besides, we cannot fly straight to the Imperial Palace anyway, can we?"
Forget the Imperial Palace; the Imperial Guard would clash with them even if they just flew near the capital, so in any case, they had to travel by land from this point onward.
"I am only asking to share one meal, so why must you act so cold-heartedly?"
Zing.
At that moment, a strange gaze brushed past Bu Eunseol's mind.
It was a sensation born not only from his extrasensory perception reaching its limit, but it was also like a sort of intuition that only someone like him, who had faced countless super-powerhouses, could feel.
"Alright."
As if having made a decision, Bu Eunseol's eyes sparkled as he nodded.
"However, I will choose the place we enter."
"You are not planning on feeding me plain noodles and vegetables in another shabby inn, are you?"
At her cute grumbling, Bu Eunseol let out an unconscious smile.
"Do not worry. I will treat you to a proper meal this time."
Bu Eunseol entered the VIP room of an inn slightly distanced from the capital.
And with a generous heart, he ordered over a dozen dishes at once, along with a bottle of the famously expensive Snow Ginseng Wine.
Even though she had been hungry, the princess only tasted each dish once before setting down her chopsticks.
"They say hunger is the best sauce, but..."
Princess Hwijeong showed a demure smile.
"This is truly worse than the plain noodles we ate the other day."
Laughter bloomed on their faces as they looked at each other.
The taste of the cold plain noodles and stir-fried vegetables they had eaten at that shabby inn while being chased down without any strength. They would never be able to forget it forever.
"Is it because my tension has eased?"
She blinked her large eyes, seemingly overcome by drowsiness.
No matter how outstanding and bold she was, it had been an overwhelmingly arduous journey for a twenty-year-old princess who had been raised delicately in the Imperial Family.
Eventually, she gently closed both eyes.
However, the true reason Princess Hwijeong had fallen asleep was because Bu Eunseol had sent out a formless and soundless finger wind to lightly strike her sleeping acupoint.
"Rest well."
He muttered a strange remark.
"For this is the final favor I can bestow upon you."
After looking at the sleeping Princess Hwijeong's face, Bu Eunseol quietly stepped outside.
The interior of the inn was completely empty, and not even a single ant, let alone a servant, could be seen.
No, the presence of people in the vicinity of the inn had completely vanished.
Someone had completely sealed off this place.
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