Shim Wol sidestepped an immediate answer, subtly shifting the topic.
“What’s certain is that Elder Jeok values your exceptional talent, which is why he made such a proposal.” Bu Eunseol gazed at Shim Wol in silence.
His eyes were not only sharp like the tip of a blade but gleamed with a piercing intensity, as if they could see through one’s very core. Yet Shim Wol’s eyes were filled with warmth, like those of a lover.
“I see. Now I understand.” Bu Eunseol had always found something puzzling about Shim Wol.
How could a mere disciple of Manbak Hall possess an aura comparable to his own, a Demon Warrior?
“What do you mean?” Shim Wol asked.
“Your true identity.” A smile similar to Shim Wol’s curved Bu Eunseol’s lips. “You’re a disciple of Manbak Hall, but perhaps also a member of the Amcheondae. Or maybe… even Elder Jeok’s personal disciple.”
For a fleeting moment, Shim Wol’s smile vanished. But it was only for an instant. Soon, an even brighter smile spread across his face.
“Who knows?” Shim Wol said casually, his eyes curving like crescent Muns. “No matter what I do or what position I hold, I remain a loyal disciple of this fortress.”
By then, Bu Eunseol and Shim Wol had arrived at a small pavilion. Through the open gate, a beautiful garden and a small pond were visible.
Shim Wol looked at a tall pavilion rising to the south and said, “This place is not only scenic but also not far from the Sacred Demon Pavilion, where Majeon's Sect Leader resides.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“There are maids inside, so feel free to ask for anything you need. And…” Shim Wol’s voice grew calm but slightly colder. “This is the final favor Elder Jeok will extend to you.”
In other words, this lodging was arranged through Elder Jeok Bung’s influence. Understanding Shim Wol’s meaning, Bu Eunseol gave a wry smile and nodded.
“Tell the Elder I’m grateful and that I’ll rest well.”
“Understood.” Shim Wol clasped his hands and quietly departed.
Watching his retreating figure, Bu Eunseol suddenly realized two things. Elder Jeok was someone who manipulated those around him like pieces on a chessboard. And he was a man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
***
The next day, the fortress announced a somewhat absurd schedule.
They were holding a banquet for the visiting Demon Warriors and requested their attendance. The banquet was supposedly to foster camaraderie among the Ten Demon Warriors. Moreover, since no fortress officials would attend, there was no obligation to go. Naturally, Bu Eunseol chose not to attend.
Though they were fellow Demon Warriors, they were people who had fought life-and-death battles on Hell Island. Aside from Seo Jinha, with whom he had fought side by side, Bu Eunseol harbored no fond feelings for them. Like Yoo Unryong, whom he had encountered earlier.
‘Is this another test?’ A sense of unease crept up from deep within his chest.
If the sole purpose was to confront the Grand Masters, there was no need to summon the Ten Demon Warriors to the fortress. A simple order to each sect would have sufficed. Yet they had gone out of their way to summon them, provide lodgings, and hold a banquet?
Then this must all be part of a meticulously orchestrated plan by someone in charge.
‘It would’ve been easier if I were part of the fortress.’ Bu Eunseol thought of Seo Jinha and shook his head. Having joined the Cheonsal early, Seo Jinha might have been the first to shed the burden of being a Demon Warrior.
‘He’s probably not here.’ Given Seo Jinha’s personality, if he were in the fortress, he would have sought Bu Eunseol out by now. ‘Lord Neung is away too, I heard.’
Neung Gak, who had transitioned from being the Heavenly Secrets Lord of Nangyang Pavilion to the Hyunhyeon Lord of the fortress, was a man of great martial prowess and wisdom who had aided Bu Eunseol during the White Horse Temple’s test. If Neung Gak were here, he would have offered valuable advice and assistance in this situation.
‘Perhaps the fortress anticipated this and arranged things accordingly…’ By then, the sun had set, and night had fallen. A knock on the door was followed by a maid’s soft voice.
“A warrior from the Crimson Star Sect requests your presence, Young Master.”
“Let him in.” At Bu Eunseol’s words, the door opened, and a warrior wearing a red-tinted sword bowed.
“I am Jang Yu, a disciple of the Crimson Star Sect.”
“What’s the matter?”
“An order has been issued to summon the Demon Warriors to the Solitary Light Pavilion.”
‘So it begins.’ Bu Eunseol rose from his seat and nodded.
The one orchestrating all this had finally called the Ten Demon Warriors.
***
Following the warrior, Bu Eunseol headed not toward the fortress’s central buildings but to the western outskirts.
There stood a seven-story pavilion, its exterior darkened as if stained black. The towering structure, piercing the sky, resembled a massive sword with serrated edges.
“Why the rush?” Bu Eunseol asked, noticing Jang Yu’s hurried pace. “Am I the last one?”
“Yes. We were informed late that your lodging was separately arranged…”
“I see.” Bu Eunseol gave a faint smile.
It seemed Elder Jeok’s arrangement of a special lodging hadn’t been communicated to the regular warriors.
“This way.” Jang Yu opened a door inside the pavilion, and Bu Eunseol nodded before entering.
Inside, a grand hall came into view. Transparent crystal pillars lined the hall, and glowing night pearls were embedded in the walls and ceiling. Below the altar stood seven warriors—Demon Warriors.
‘Seven?’ A hint of confusion flickered in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
The fortress had planned for twelve Demon Warriors, with two to be selected as direct fortress warriors. But due to Instructor Hyeok Ryeon’s intervention to save Bu Eunseol, fourteen had survived. Excluding the two who joined the fortress’s Secret Shadow Pavilion and Seo Jinha, who became a Cheonsal member… Including Bu Eunseol, eleven Demon Warriors should have been present.
‘They said the Hwa Wu Sword Sect didn’t select a Demon Warrior.’ Even accounting for that, ten should have come.
‘It’s one of two things.’ Bu Eunseol’s eyes sharpened like a blade. ‘Either they were recruited by Elder Jeok, or they were accepted as true disciples by their sect, like me.’
Either way, it didn’t matter. Their goal was likely the annihilation of the Grand Masters.
“Bu Eunseol.” A young man with a white whip at his waist approached with a smirk. It was Yoo Unryong. “You rejected the Hwa Wu Sword Sect and joined Nangyang Pavilion… only to be discarded like a dog.”
“What are you talking about?”
“They say those who didn’t show up here are under the protection of the Ten Demonic Sects. Or some have joined the fortress’s direct warriors.”
Bu Eunseol had rejected both Nangyang Pavilion’s offer to name him successor and Elder Jeok Bung’s proposal to join the fortress’s direct warriors, choosing to come here of his own accord. But Yoo Unryong, unaware of this, continued to taunt him.
“You acted high and mighty on Hell Island, but now you’re just waiting to be boiled alive like a hunting dog.” When no response came, Yoo Unryong’s voice grew sharper. “The head instructor was banished to the remote frontier to save you, so what now? In the end, you…”
“Shut up.” Suddenly, a figure with a short spear strapped to his back stepped between Bu Eunseol and Yoo Unryong.
His face was pale, his body gaunt, but a bluish aura emanated from his eyes. It was Yeong Munho, the Ten Demon Warrior of the Death Command Sect.
“Yoo Unryong, are you whining about your own situation?”
“What?”
“Not everyone here was dragged here against their will, like you.” Yeong Munho’s cold retort sparked fury in Yoo Unryong’s eyes.
“What did you say?” Enraged, he gripped the white whip at his waist and shouted, “Yeong Munho, you dare…!”
“But is this any way to treat us?” A figure in pale green robes, adorned with strange patterns, stepped between Yoo Unryong and Yeong Munho.
It was Seok Woo-Haeng, the Ten Demon Warrior of the Extreme Slaughter Sect.
“Whatever the process, we are Demon Warriors. Yet they sneak us into the fortress like thieves, make us wait in this pavilion without explanation…” Yoo Unryong, who had been raging, paused at Seok Woo-Haeng’s words.
His statement echoed the shared sentiment of the Demon Warriors gathered here. They hadn’t expected a hero’s welcome, but they had at least anticipated treatment befitting the warriors of the Ten Demonic Sects. Instead, aside from a meaningless banquet, they were being treated like peddlers sent to toil.
Rumble.
A sound like rolling stones came from a wall near the altar, and a door opened. A man in black robes slowly emerged.
“...!” A suffocating silence fell over the hall.
The sharp aura emanating from the man in black swirled through the entire space.
‘He’s strong.’ Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened slightly as he observed the man.
Not only was his aura powerful, but his body exuded a razor-sharp killing intent, like thorns shooting out. He was undoubtedly a cold-blooded butcher capable of taking hundreds, if not thousands, of lives without hesitation.
Swish.
The man in black stepped onto the altar and spoke in a low voice.
“I am Deung Ryun, Great Lord of the Myeonhon.”
A chilling air instantly froze the hall.
The Myeonhon, one of the three great war units of the fortress, feared across the martial world. And its leader had appeared out of nowhere?
‘Not the Great Lord.’ Unlike the others in shock, Bu Eunseol inwardly shook his head. He instinctively knew that Deung Ryun was not the one who summoned the Demon Warriors and orchestrated this plan. ‘There’s someone else.’
“I’ll keep this brief,” Deung Ryun said, sweeping his gaze over the Demon Warriors. “From today onward, you will go out into the martial world and eliminate the Grand Masters by any means necessary.” It was a curt command.
After a prolonged silence, Deung Ryun added, “If you have questions, speak.”
Yoo Unryong, who had been visibly discontent, stepped forward.
“I want to know why it was necessary to summon all the Demon Warriors here. Couldn’t you have just sent orders to our sects?” It was less a question and more a challenge.
In the days of Hell Island, he wouldn’t have dared speak like this, no matter how bold he was. But now, as Demon Warriors who had fully mastered the supreme techniques of the Ten Demonic Sects, they had the status and right to speak up, even to a formidable master like Deung Ryun.
“There are two reasons you were summoned to the fortress. The first was to assign Grand Masters to you based on your martial prowess.” Pausing, Deung Ryun looked at Yoo Unryong with a strange smile. “But, with one exception, you’ve all reached a high level, so that plan was scrapped.”
At this, the Demon Warriors, except Bu Eunseol, all flashed their eyes.
‘Someone was watching us again, like on Hell Island.’ But one person’s eyes gleamed for a different reason—Yoo Unryong.
When Deung Ryun said “with one exception,” his gaze was fixed squarely on him.
‘You’re the weakest.’ That’s what Deung Ryun was saying. Feeling humiliated, Yoo Unryong bit his lip. But his opponent was the Great Lord of the Myeonhon, a figure who shook the martial world. He didn’t have the courage to lash out.
“I know you’re dissatisfied. Given more time, you could further hone your martial arts,” Deung Ryun said. “But the same goes for the Grand Masters. They’ve long been joint warriors of the Martial Alliance, refining their skills.”
Sweeping his gaze over them again, he continued, “That gap is hard to close quickly. The more time passes, the stronger they may become.”
Deung Ryun’s words held some truth. Time doesn’t guarantee endless progress. The issue was that they hadn’t been given enough time to develop.
“May I ask one thing?” Seok Woo-Haeng stepped forward. “I’ve heard that not only the Great Lord but also the warriors of the Myeonhon have skills that shake the martial world. So why was it necessary to train us to kill the Grand Masters?”
“That’s the second reason you were summoned.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Listen well. The Demon Warriors who kills the most Grand Masters…” Deung Ryun’s gaze swept over everyone in the hall before he dropped a shocking statement.
“…will become a candidate to succeed Majeon's Sect Leader!”
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