"Pavilion Lord?"
The Night Watch Pavilion Lord, who was directing the investigation to root out the spies, spotted him and ran over with a surprised expression.
"When did you return? I did not confirm your entry."
"It hasn't been long. I thought to check if the disciples were doing their jobs properly while this old man was away."
Bu Eunseol wore a languid yet unfathomable smile unique to Mok Do-in on his lips.
"Is that so."
It was a fact known to anyone that Mok Do-in prioritized the security of the Solitary Enlightenment Hall whether awake or asleep.
"However, what in the world is this commotion?"
At Bu Eunseol's relaxed attitude and stern presence, the Night Watch Pavilion Lord hurriedly bowed his waist and explained the whole story.
"There was intelligence that there was a person who had secretly infiltrated within the Alliance. So we activated the Heavenly Net Warning Bell, and were searching for the hiding figure."
"I see. So the Heavenly Net Warning Bell was..."
Muttering lowly, Bu Eunseol nodded his head lightly.
"Thank you for your hard work."
And then, as if nothing had happened, he headed toward the Solitary Enlightenment Hall.
Because Bu Eunseol had watched Mok Do-in for a long time, he was perfectly mimicking his expressions, manner of speech, and gait.
Although the Night Watch Pavilion Lord was a figure with sharp discerning eyes, it was precisely because of that point that he was completely fooled.
Because there was absolutely no ground for suspicion in any aspect.
Step, step.
Bu Eunseol, having arrived at the Solitary Enlightenment Hall, nodded his head with a calm expression to the martial artists expressing their courtesy, and then headed to the third floor.
The moment he arrived at about the middle of the corridor where his office was located with a leisurely gait,
Boom!
Suddenly, with a loud noise, massive steel doors came down from both sides of the corridor.
At the same time, all entrances leading to the third floor were closed, and the candles were extinguished all at once, submerging the space in darkness.
Sssk.
From the thick darkness on the opposite side, something rose like a haze.
Although it had no form or presence, something that overwhelmed the entire space just by its existence had appeared.
Clap, clap, clap.
Along with the sound of clapping breaking the silence, the haze gradually took shape, and soon became the figure of a middle-aged man akin to an immortal.
The Martial Alliance Leader, the Heavenly Emperor.
No, it was the Martial Venerable disguised as him.
"Indeed, the secret art of the Sacred Domain is astonishing. It is truly perfect."
The Martial Venerable approached Bu Eunseol with a beaming smile.
"Why, at first I really thought Mok Do-in had returned."
Bu Eunseol was so startled that his heart felt like it would leap out of his chest.
The Secret Art of Darkness was perfect, and through the Art of Deceptive Enlightenment, his gaze, gait, atmosphere, manner of speech, etc... he had become a figure who was not different from Mok Do-in in any way.
Even that suspicious and sharp-eyed Night Watch Pavilion Lord had been fooled at once.
How on earth did that person recognize his true identity at a glance?
When Bu Eunseol did not answer, the Martial Venerable clicked his tongue and laughed.
"There is no need to be on edge like that."
And he spoke in an uncharacteristically warm voice.
"In any case, the cooperative relationship with the Sacred Domain will continue to go on, and nothing will change."
For a moment, Bu Eunseol almost exhaled the breath he had been holding in.
'I see.'
Mok Do-in had left the Martial Alliance for some reason, and the Sacred Domain had sent a figure to replace him.
And the Martial Venerable, mistakenly thinking that he was the figure dispatched from the Sacred Domain, had been waiting here.
'If that is so, Mok Do-in did not go on an excursion but...'
Cold sweat flowed, and his spine seemed to turn cold.
'Some sort of mishap has occurred.'
What if the Sacred Domain had intentionally tried to replace Mok Do-in with another figure?
They would not have created a fifteen-day gap under the guise of an excursion.
Because when a new figure came to the Martial Alliance, they could just naturally replace him at that time.
However, Mok Do-in had deliberately written a travel report called an excursion, and had created an official fifteen-day gap.
This meant it was by no means a normal situation.
"However, you are much faster than I thought. Surprisingly so."
In the moment he was lost in deep thought, the Martial Venerable took one more step closer and tilted his head.
"To think you could exactly mimic the gaze, manner of speech, and even the habits of the Hidden Forest Pavilion Lord in such a short time."
The Martial Venerable's voice was calm, but his gaze was emitting a sharp radiance as if trying to pierce through something.
As if he was verifying whether he was truly using the Secret Art of Darkness.
"Even if this old man's talent is outstanding, how could it match the Martial Venerable of all under heaven."
Bu Eunseol retorted calmly.
Mok Do-in knew the true identity of the Martial Venerable. If so, there was no way the Sacred Domain was unaware of that fact, which is why he spoke like this.
"It seems you have not heard those words yet."
The Martial Venerable clicked his tongue with a 'tsk'.
"That you must absolutely never utter that word in front of me."
Behind his back, the faint form of some unknown creature coiling itself spread out, and an intense light that seemed to melt flesh and spirit together burst forth.
'This is the Martial Venerable?'
He felt as if the blood in his entire body was cooling down.
Because he had faced him several times during his days as Seon Woojin, he had guessed his martial prowess to some extent.
However, during the time he had been away from the Martial Alliance, the Martial Venerable had transformed into a completely different being.
'Did he develop this much in that time?'
The authority of a superhuman that had been exhibited by the crazed Heavenly Emperor or the Returning to One Realm Lord was flowing out.
"Well, we just need to be careful with each other."
When Bu Eunseol seemed greatly surprised, the Martial Venerable, as if satisfied, immediately withdrew his momentum with a smile.
"So that we do not invade each other's territory in the future as well."
Through that single phrase, Bu Eunseol intuitively sensed that the Martial Venerable had continuously had contact with the Sacred Domain.
"I will."
As Bu Eunseol calmly nodded his head,
"Is the deal still valid?"
The Martial Venerable threw an unexpected question.
'Deal?'
Bu Eunseol closed his mouth.
When the situation was not clearly grasped, silence was the best.
However, the Martial Venerable stubbornly waited for an answer while sending a persistent gaze.
"Of course."
After much deliberation, Bu Eunseol said this.
"As this Domain always does, we merely observe."
Those were words Mok Do-in had said to Bu Eunseol in the past.
"Is that so."
Perhaps finding that answer to his liking, the Martial Venerable showed a subtle smile.
"A truly regrettable star has fallen. Wouldn't you agree?"
The Martial Venerable clicked his tongue and turned his head.
"Exactly which faction's expert infiltrated this Alliance and committed such an atrocity..."
And he shrugged his shoulders.
"Thanks to that, this body was able to activate the Twin-Winged Phoenix Token to stabilize the chaotic situation within the Alliance, though."
In an instant, a flash of light passed through Bu Eunseol's eyes.
'Was that it.'
The reason the Night Watch Pavilion Lord, who had blockaded the Martial Alliance and rooted out the spies, had led the secret combat operatives and taken command... it was because the Martial Venerable had activated the Twin-Winged Phoenix Token, seizing the real power of the Martial Alliance once again.
'Martial Venerable.'
Bu Eunseol cried out inwardly.
'You killed Mok Do-in.'
He could intuitively tell that the one who had killed Mok Do-in was the Martial Venerable.
He was in a position where he would soon have to hand over the Alliance Leader seat to Baek Museong.
However, if that happened, there would be absolutely nothing he could do in the Martial Alliance, and he would only be left with leaving the martial world and going into seclusion.
But what if a figure from the Sacred Domain within the Martial Alliance suspiciously went missing, and his whereabouts were not properly revealed?
As the Martial Alliance Leader, he had to take responsibility and investigate the truth... so he used that as an excuse to activate the Twin-Winged Phoenix Token.
And he was able to maintain his power again.
'He would have no choice but to continuously activate the Twin-Winged Phoenix Token until a proper investigation result comes out.'
Cold sweat flowed down Bu Eunseol's back.
The Martial Venerable had deployed a truly wicked scheme, deliberately murdering Mok Do-in.
Through this incident, he was openly establishing a cooperative relationship with the Sacred Domain and hatching some sort of plan.
'Why is he so obsessed with the Martial Alliance?'
While acting as the Alliance Leader for over ten years, the Martial Venerable had gained much information and nurtured numerous secret forces.
He no longer needed to cling to the position of Alliance Leader. Why on earth was he obsessed with that seat?
"It has already become the Hour of the Sheep (1-3 PM)."
Bu Eunseol, who erased the rising thoughts, muttered in a languid voice.
"Is it time to inspect the mechanisms?"
Whenever it became the Hour of the Sheep, Mok Do-in always inspected the internal mechanisms of the Solitary Enlightenment Hall.
At those words, the sunken eyes of the Martial Venerable sparkled.
He was not only meticulous in character but also suspicious in every matter.
However, as Bu Eunseol had perfectly familiarized himself with not only Mok Do-in's appearance and habits but also his daily routine, the Martial Venerable was finally convinced that he was a figure from the Sacred Domain.
"Please do so."
The voice of the Martial Venerable as he turned his body softened considerably.
"Then."
Rumble.
With those words as the end, the steel doors on both sides of the closed corridor went up, and the oil lamps hanging on the walls lit up on their own.
The closed corridor had returned to its original state again.
'Phew.'
As the Martial Venerable disappeared, the heavy air seemed to lighten again, and the surroundings seemed to brighten.
'Martial Venerable.'
Bu Eunseol exhaled the breath he had been holding in since earlier in a low voice.
'What exactly is he aiming for?'
In the past, with the help of the Wooden Buddha, he had acted as the Divine Sage and held the secrets of the martial world in his grasp.
Therefore, neither the fact that he was controlling the Martial Alliance through his divine calculations and wondrous strategies, nor the fact that he had connections with a mysterious sect called the Sacred Domain, was very surprising.
But that momentum.
How on earth did he achieve a transcendent leap in martial prowess in a short period?
With what method did he kill the figure from the Sacred Domain, and how did he conceal it?
'Thoughts come later.'
Right now, he must quickly escape the Martial Alliance.
Nevertheless, Bu Eunseol did not immediately go outside, but instead headed to the office.
He did not know when or where eyes observing him might be present again.
He intended to slip away after reproducing Mok Do-in's perfect daily routine.
Clack. Rumble.
As he opened the door to the office, a heavy sound was heard along with a weighty feeling.
Although the wood grain pattern was vivid, it was not a wooden door, but a steel door more than four chi thick.
'This is.'
Upon entering inside, Bu Eunseol was surprised.
The interior of the office, which seemed like it would be piled with an enormous number of books, was completely empty, with only a table and a few pieces of furniture placed there.
It looked like a place that people had not visited for a long time.
'Someone has touched it.'
Going inside, he saw a Star Plate extremely similar to the one that had been in the office of the Manbak Hall Lord Baek Jeoncheon.
'There is no way he did not investigate this.'
If the Martial Venerable had killed Mok Do-in?
He would have rolled up his sleeves and investigated this unique Star Plate first.
Nevertheless, seeing that it remained here all alone, there did not seem to be any particular abnormalities.
Ziiiing.
However, a bizarre sensation was felt.
'It resonates with the Star Plate?'
As he got closer to the Star Plate, his skin trembled, and was the Secret Art of Darkness not fluctuating?
After pondering for a moment, Bu Eunseol slowly moved his steps and placed his hand on the Star Plate.
Tap, triiickle.
As his hand touched it, the Secret Art of Darkness was absorbed into it, and,
Rumble. Ziiiing.
A space on one side of the office distorted, and transformed like the shape of a door.
"A door."
As he placed his hand there, a crackling spark arose, and soon his arm slipped inside.
'The Sacred Domain's barrier.'
Through the Star Plate, Mok Do-in had created a barrier that only those possessing the Secret Art of Darkness could pass through.
'That is why no one, including the Martial Venerable, was able to discover the door here.'
Ssk.
Carefully passing through the barrier, he saw a long, long corridor leading underground.
After going down for a long time, a wide space entirely made of bricks, akin to a massive underground prison, came into view.
And there...
Just like the one once placed in the Pyeongan Funeral Home, a single iron coffin dyed ink-black sat there.
'Grandfather!'
Bu Eunseol ran toward the iron coffin.
Could the remains of his grandfather, taken by the Returning to One Realm, have been here?
"No, it is not."
Standing in front of the iron coffin, Bu Eunseol let out a sigh, not knowing whether it was a misfortune or a relief.
Only the material was similar, but the patterns carved on the coffin and the size were minutely different.
"To think such an item existed again in the martial world."
Unless one were a corpse examiner, only sects like the Appearance-Dressing Sect or the Skeleton Sect, which command jiangshi or deploy evil arts using the grudges of the dead, would handle an object like a coffin and craft such an iron coffin.
However, since both sects had already disappeared, he thought the iron coffin in the Pyeongan Funeral Home would be the only one.
To think an iron coffin with a chillingly similar material and energy was hidden in the basement of Mok Do-in's office?
Ssk.
Bu Eunseol slowly placed his hand on the tightly closed coffin lid.
A heavy and cold sensation spread through his palm to his entire body.
Creaaak.
As he threw open the lid along with a sound that seemed to scratch his nerves,
"...?"
Unlike his expectation, inside the coffin, instead of a corpse, a single small piece of chain shining brilliantly was left completely alone.
As if emitting light on its own even in the darkness, it was spewing a mysterious radiance like the compressed Milky Way.
"What is this."
Standing blankly for a moment at the unexpected sight, Bu Eunseol extended his hand as if possessed.
The moment his finger touched that brilliant piece of chain,
Sizzle.
As if placing his hand on red-hot iron, white smoke rose from his body along with a horrific sound.
'Kugh.'
Bu Eunseol bit his teeth.
Beyond the pain of burning flesh, an extreme agony that seemed to sear his very soul gouged the nerves of his entire body.
'I cannot let go.'
The chain that touched his hand stuck to it like a magnet, and no matter how much effort he used, it did not detach.
Sizzzle.
Before he knew it, his pupils were dyed white, and his consciousness was slowly fading away.
'I must not lose my mind here.'
The moment he was trying to grit his teeth and endure,
Flash!
An explosive radiance burst forth from the piece of chain.
That light directly pierced through Bu Eunseol's body, and he lost consciousness just like that, without even being able to let out a scream.
How much time had passed?
As he slowly opened his eyes, the lingering pain made his entire body throb.
He reflexively checked his left hand.
The piece of chain that had held the brilliant light had disappeared without a trace.
'What happened?'
There were no burn marks or any scars or traces on his palm.
'Did I dream?'
At that time, a faint sensation of a foreign object was felt on his palm.
Enhancing his vision to look closely, was there not a faint line carved there?
It was as if a thread made of light had been embedded into his skin.
The light was so thin and weak that even a master like him had to peer at it for a long while to barely perceive its shape.
'Does this mean it is a trace created by that piece of chain melting into it.'
It felt bizarre.
Bu Eunseol raised his fingernails and tried to scratch it off.
However, his fingernails merely brushed the skin, and there was no feeling of anything touching his fingertips.
It was as if looking at a transparent illusion.
'There is no way I am seeing hallucinations.'
Vwoom.
He drew up his internal energy and tried to push out the thread of light embedded in his palm once more.
However, there was still no reaction.
'Very well.'
Paaat!
This time, after drawing up all the power existing in his entire body along with his internal energy, he tried to expel the transparent thread by exerting an intense force, as if unfolding Harmony with his palm.
Vwoom, vwoom, vwoom!
The moment all the power gathered in his palm and created a round sphere,
Vwoom.
Suddenly, the faint and transparent line gradually grew, and the shape of a chain was formed.
It was extremely similar to the one embedded in Dali's chest, which he had seen in Baekri Geomha's memories in the past.
"The Chains of Samsara."
The thing that had been inside this coffin was the Chains of Samsara, the divine authority possessed by the being of the beginning, the True Demon.
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