Baek Yeon continued with a solemn expression.
"I'm talking about the fundamental reason why the conflict between the Great Righteous Masters and the Ten Demon Warrior began."
"I don't quite understand what you mean." Baek Yeon paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on the distant sky.
"The Ten Demon Warrior and the Great Righteous Masters. On the surface, it seems like mere clashes between young masters... but in reality, it's a contest of strength between the righteous and demonic paths once again."
"A contest of strength... you say." Bu Eunseol, who had been silently lost in thought, shook his head.
He could not agree with that idea.
"If this fight is truly a contest between the demonic and righteous paths, then the Demonic Sect should have taken ample time to prepare the Ten Demon Warrior to face the Great Righteous Masters." Recalling those who perished in the slaughter of Hell Island, Bu Eunseol bit his lip. "But they were forced to set out because they defied the fight for the successor's position. After all, the Ten Demon Warrior are nothing but disposable pawns."
"Disposable pawns. You're right." Baek Yeon's gaze deepened. "That's exactly why this contest of strength is possible."
His phoenix-like eyes narrowed slightly.
"As you said, all the successors of the Ten Demonic Sects are still intact. That's why the Demonic Sect sends out the Ten Demon Warrior to deal with the Great Righteous Masters..."
He paused briefly before continuing heavily.
"And the righteous sects are doing the same." At that moment, Bu Eunseol realized a terrifying truth.
The reason Seong Ryun was determined to kill him. Wasn't it the same situation as that of the Ten Demon Warrior?
"So, the Great Righteous Masters are in the same situation?"
"Exactly." Baek Yeon nodded faintly. "Regardless of their sect, they select individuals with exceptional talent, teach them martial arts without restraint, and turn them into pillars of the righteous path. That was the plan for the Great Righteous Masters."
Pausing briefly, Baek Yeon let out a sigh.
"And that plan seemed to succeed. But an unexpected flaw emerged."
Bu Eunseol responded immediately.
"Just like the Ten Demon Warrior, the successors of the righteous sects felt threatened by them, didn't they?"
"Correct." Baek Yeon gave a bitter smile. "Every sect, including the Nine Great Sects, already had their own successors. But when the exceptional Great Righteous Masters appeared, it caused division instead."
In the major sects, outstanding martial talent alone wasn't enough to become a successor. Without the support of the factions upholding each sect, it was meaningless.
Tang Gon was one such case, and so was Seong Ryun.
"But aren't the Zhongnan and Kongtong sects desperately searching for the Ten Demon Warrior who killed them?"
"True. They're searching for the Ten Demon Warrior—only the Ten Demon Warrior." Baek Yeon smiled coldly. "If they truly wanted revenge, they would have first sought out the sects that sent the Ten Demon Warrior and demanded retribution. That would have been much faster."
"I see." Bu Eunseol finally understood the full truth.
The Ten Demon Warrior and the Great Righteous Masters.
Those who had mastered the finest martial arts of both the demonic and righteous paths were merely pawns on a chessboard, fighting on behalf of their respective paths.
'That's why the Great Righteous Masters didn't stay with their sects.' The Great Righteous Masters, who once shone brilliantly with fame.
But they no longer appeared in the martial world, consistently secluding themselves. To avoid disrupting the power structures of their sects' successors, they had no choice but to quietly leave.
"But you are different." Baek Yeon looked directly into Bu Eunseol's eyes as he spoke. "You are the successor of Nangyang. You always have been, and you still are."
Taking a deep breath, Baek Yeon spoke firmly.
"If you wish, I can free you from the shackles of the Ten Demon Warrior right now." Bu Eunseol's gaze was fixed not on Baek Yeon but on the empty air.
What he desired was not to be the successor of Nangyang or the Demonic Sect.
To become endlessly stronger. To keep growing stronger, find the culprit who altered his fate, and exact revenge.
'I must not avoid trials.'
To become stronger, he must never shy away from trials.
If he started avoiding danger and hardship, he would grow accustomed to it. That way, he could never become a supreme master who overlooks the martial world.
"I..." Taking a deep breath, Bu Eunseol spoke resolutely. "I will continue to face the Great Righteous Masters."
Baek Yeon nodded at his unwavering response.
"I knew you would say that." With a dry smile, Baek Yeon pulled an envelope from his robes. "Read this. I can't stay here long, so I've put all the information you need in here."
Bu Eunseol's eyes widened as he read the letters inside the envelope.
"These are..."
"You make the decision. Whatever choice you make, I... and the sect will trust you."
"Leader." Baek Yeon smiled warmly and patted Bu Eunseol's shoulder once more.
"Take care." Looking at Bu Eunseol with kind eyes, Baek Yeon slowly turned and vanished like mist.
Bu Eunseol gazed in the direction Baek Yeon had disappeared, clasping his hands and bowing deeply.
"More..." Muttering softly, Bu Eunseol bit his lip hard.
"I will become stronger."
Whoosh.
The thick paper burned in the flickering campfire. It was the envelope Baek Yeon had given him. Bu Eunseol's eyes, watching the paper burn into white smoke, were empty. They seemed deep in thought, yet also as if thinking of nothing at all.
"I must choose." The envelope contained two pieces of information.
First, the movements of the Ten Demon Warrior in the martial world.
Seok Woohaeng of the Extreme Slaughter Sect had reportedly defeated another Great Righteous Master.
And Myo Cheon-woo of the Annihilation Palace, though late, had killed a Great Righteous Master and escaped pursuit.
'Myo Cheon-woo survived, just like Yoo Unryong.'
In summary, of the seven Ten Demon Warrior who entered the martial world, four remained alive.
The second piece of information was that the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, who had been in seclusion, would break his retreat and return to the Demonic Sect in a month.
This meant that in a month, the situation for the Ten Demon Warrior could change again.
Baek Yeon also anticipated that the conflict between the Ten Demon Warrior and the Great Righteous Masters would cease.
"A candidate for the Demonic Sect's successor." Bu Eunseol had no intention of killing many Great Righteous Masters to become a candidate for the Demonic Sect's successor.
But after the incident with the Beggar King, he had made one resolution. To cast off the shackles of the Ten Demon Warrior on his own.
"If I can't even do this, I don't deserve to be the successor of our sect." For the sake of the Peongan Corps members who sacrificed themselves for him, Bu Eunseol had to become stronger.
"After all, I only have about a month left."
To do so, Bu Eunseol needed to surpass Seok Woohaeng. In other words, he had to kill two Great Righteous Masters within a month.
***
Janggeom Mountain Manor.
A secluded manor built along the rugged terrain of Biryong Mountain.
Though it could not compare to the Nine Great Sects or the Eight Great Families, it was a prestigious righteous sword sect that had long held fame in the Zhengzhou region.
Eight years ago, when Han Seong, the young master of Janggeom Mountain Manor, was chosen as a Great Righteous Master, the manor's reputation spread beyond Zhengzhou to the Henan region.
Jingle, jingle, jingle.
The manor was filled with lively music, and people gathered like clouds.
Today was the day Han Yeongbaek, the master of Janggeom Mountain Manor, held his Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony.
The Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony.
A ritual where one washes their hands in a golden basin, symbolizing the resolution of all grudges and retirement from the martial world.
This ceremony was a privilege reserved for renowned righteous heroes.
Blood feuds are settled with blood.
No matter how many times one holds the ceremony, those with grudges would never stop seeking revenge. Thus, only heroes who had done great deeds in the martial world or renowned righteous masters could hold such a ceremony.
Buzz, buzz.
A massive crowd gathered at Janggeom Mountain Manor to celebrate Han Yeongbaek's ceremony.
Though a small sword sect in Zhengzhou, many sects and local dignitaries sent gifts in consideration of Han Seong, the Great Righteous Master.
At that moment, a soft ding, ding, ding of bells rang out, and the manor's warriors brought out a large table. On the table sat a gleaming golden basin filled with clear water.
"Thank you, fellow martial artists!"
An old man dressed in silk robes stepped forward toward the gathered guests.
It was Han Yeongbaek, the master of Janggeom Mountain Manor.
Beside him stood a robust young man, Han Seong, the young master of the manor and a Great Righteous Master. The martial artists, who had been eating and drinking, stopped and turned their attention to the Han father and son.
"I never imagined so many would come to celebrate this humble old man's hand-washing ceremony." Han Yeongbaek's voice was low but infused with inner energy, reaching the ears of over three hundred martial artists clearly. "From this day forward, I, Han Yeongbaek, will wash my hands of the martial world and no longer interfere in its affairs. Henceforth, all matters of the manor will..."
Han Yeongbaek's words were cut off.
Suddenly, the water in the golden basin exploded upward like fireworks.
"Father!" Han Seong instinctively stepped in front of Han Yeongbaek.
Sizzle!
White smoke rose from the liquid that had splashed. It wasn't clear water in the basin but a deadly poison.
"Urgh." As Han Seong swung his sleeve to deflect the liquid,
Sssss...
Thick smoke suddenly billowed from beneath the table, spreading in all directions.
"Aaaargh!" A scream echoed through the smoke-filled manor, so harrowing it sent chills down everyone's spines, as if the screamer had poured out their very life force.
"The young master is dead!" As the smoke cleared, someone shouted.
Han Seong, who had shielded Han Yeongbaek, lay with his head severed from his body.
"An assassin!" With the Great Righteous Master Han Seong killed in an instant, the manor descended into chaos.
But something was strange. Even though his only son had died, Han Yeongbaek's face remained eerily calm. In fact, a peculiar smile played at the corners of his mouth.
Boom.
A dull sound suddenly rang out from the manor's entrance.
At the same time, with a clatter, dozens of warriors burst out from the rear garden, sealing the entrance with disciplined movements. As this unexpected situation unfolded, the gathered crowd exchanged glances.
—What in the world is happening?
"Calm yourselves!" Han Yeongbaek surveyed the crowd and spoke loudly. "Fellow martial artists! I, Han Yeongbaek, must first offer my apologies!"
Scanning the surroundings with a solemn expression, he continued.
"I've heard that a group of demonic path members called the Ten Demon Warrior have been stirring trouble in the martial world."
At his words, a few quick-witted martial artists nodded faintly. They realized this Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony was a trap to lure out the Ten Demon Warrior.
"Indeed. This ceremony was a desperate measure to draw out the Ten Demon Warrior."
Pausing briefly, Han Yeongbaek continued. "Of course, the ceremony will proceed as planned. But only after we deal with the Ten Demons Warrior who has infiltrated this place."
At that moment, a robust young man stepped up behind Han Yeongbaek. The crowd gasped in shock. It was Han Seong, the young master of Janggeom Mountain Manor.
Could he have had a twin brother?
"Woo-hak, your sacrifice will never be forgotten."
Han Seong, with a pained expression, touched the face of the young man who looked identical to him. As he did, a thin mask peeled away, revealing a youth with striking eyes.
—A mask like that exists!
The martial artists watching were dumbfounded. Human skin masks were not uncommon in the martial world. But they were merely tools to hide one's face, not capable of perfectly replicating another's.
"We apologize for startling you all." As the manor's warriors respectfully retrieved Woo-hak's body, Han Seong stepped forward, clasping his hands. "Upon learning that a Ten Demon Warrior from the Extreme Slaughter Sect was targeting me, our manor made thorough preparations. With the help of Elder Bang from the Artificer Pavilion, we crafted a mask."
The crowd erupted in exclamations.
Bang Hoeng-hae, the master of the Artificer Pavilion, known as the Heavenly Artisan, was a master of mechanisms and renowned for crafting anything. Han Seong had commissioned Bang Hoeng-hae to create a mask identical to his face and had a manor warrior wear it.
Having finished his explanation, Han Seong surveyed the crowd with a triumphant smile.
"If you reveal yourself now and submit to being bound, I will spare your life." Despite Han Seong's shout, the crowd only exchanged glances, and no one responded.
"No choice, then." Han Seong nodded, and the manor’s warriors, standing in formation, sealed the entrance. "We regret the inconvenience, but we ask all guests visiting our manor to follow the warriors' guidance and move temporarily."
Grumbling voices rose among some of the martial artists.
"We came only to celebrate Master Han's hand-washing ceremony!"
"We don't want to be dragged into this trouble!" Han Seong, listening silently, spoke in a solemn tone. "This is a measure to root out the Ten Demons Warrior, so we ask for your understanding. If anyone refuses to comply..."
A radiant gleam poured from Han Seong's eyes.
"We will have no choice but to assume they are involved." Befitting a Great Righteous Master renowned throughout the land, a formidable aura emanated from Han Seong, overwhelming the crowd.
Though some martial artists wore discontented expressions, they reluctantly began to move.
"...!" As the warriors' movement neared its end, Han Seong's eyes flashed sharply.
He had locked eyes with the piercing gaze of a middle-aged man moving slowly.
It was a fleeting moment, but Han Seong did not miss it.
"Wait."
Thud!
The middle-aged man, realizing he had been spotted, abruptly turned and began leaping over the manor’s wall.
Whoosh!
But at that moment, a spray of blood burst in the air. The middle-aged man, mid-leap, crashed to the ground.
Boom.
Dozens of shadows in navy-blue robes descended from the air before the fallen man.
They were the Taoists of the Kongtong Sect.
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