Taking a deep breath to suppress his emotions, Hyeok Sojin spoke. “Yu Hyeoksim knew we wouldn’t accept his offer.”
“Knew?” Hyeok Gongbaek asked.
“Yes. Showing the Azure Flower was just a ploy to lure Brother Bu,” Hyeok Sojin explained.
“What do you mean?” Hyeok Gongbaek pressed.
“Having lost its status as a successor candidate, the Hell's Blood Fortress no longer has any justification to attack Brother Bu. So… they resorted to this method.” Hyeok Sojin ground his teeth. “To provoke Brother Bu into attacking them first.”
Bu Eunseol’s beast-like instincts surpassed even the Empty Heart Listening Technique.
He had likely already overheard everything from the banquet hall, including Hyeok Gongbaek and Hyeok Sojin’s rejection of the offer.
“Brother Bu not only knows no fear, but he would never want anyone to suffer because of him,” Hyeok Sojin said, biting his lip.
The Hell's Blood Fortress had seen through his character and meticulously set a trap.
“Whenever Yu Hyeoksim appears in the martial world, he always brings the entire Poison Demon Hall with him,” Hyeok Sojin added.
Realizing the situation, Hyeok Gongbaek urgently shouted, “I’ll send the Death Soul Corps immediately.”
“No, you can’t,” Hyeok Sojin countered.
“Can’t?” Hyeok Gongbaek echoed.
“If we do that, it’ll look like Brother Bu and our faction joined forces to kill the Hell's Blood Fortress’s masters without reason,” Hyeok Sojin said, maintaining his composure. “To the outside world, the Hell's Blood Fortress only came to negotiate and offer the Azure Flower, didn’t they?”
“Hm,” Hyeok Gongbaek grunted.
“Moreover, the Hell's Blood Fortress’s plan to eliminate Brother Bu in this way must be connected to other factions of the Ten Demonic Sects,” Hyeok Sojin added.
Hyeok Gongbaek let out a low groan. Hyeok Sojin’s words were spot-on.
“So you’re saying we should just sit back and do nothing?” he asked.
“No,” Hyeok Sojin replied without hesitation. “Call the Death Soul Corps.”
Hyeok Gongbaek blinked in surprise. Moments ago, Hyeok Sojin had vehemently opposed sending the Death Soul Corps, and now he was requesting them?
“…So that’s your plan,” Hyeok Gongbaek said, nodding as he recognized the resolute determination in Hyeok Sojin’s expression. “Go quickly with the Death Soul Corps.”
***
Yu Hyeoksim, having left Heaven and Earth Severing Sect, was speeding through the air with his qinggong, swiftly exiting the faction’s territory and racing through a secluded forest.
Whoosh. Thud.
As he emerged from the forest onto a wide road, Yu Hyeoksim bared his white teeth in a grin, looking at the scene ahead.
His plan had succeeded.
There, standing with arms crossed, blocking the path, was none other than Bu Eunseol.
Dash.
Yu Hyeoksim, who had been moving rapidly, landed on the ground. “The great warrior of the Nangyang Pavilion,” he said with a sinister smile, stepping forward. “What brings you here?”
“I was curious about that Azure Flower,” Bu Eunseol replied.
“Heh heh heh,” Yu Hyeoksim chuckled, a chilling killing intent emanating from his eyes. “One might think we’re old friends with such a close bond.”
“Does it require a bond to see it?” Bu Eunseol asked, his expression calm as he stared intensely at Yu Hyeoksim, who had stopped laughing.
“You’ve consistently disrupted our fortress’s affairs and killed the Blood Ghost Hall Leader. Do you think you’re qualified to speak to me?” Yu Hyeoksim demanded.
“Now that you mention it, I’m curious,” Bu Eunseol said, veering off-topic. “The Hwa Wu Sword Sect or the Blood Flame Blade Sect wouldn’t stoop to such a petty scheme.”
With a strange smile, he looked down at Yu Hyeoksim and said in a low voice, “Did the White Horse Temple and the Death Command Sect, stripped of their successor status, join forces? Or did the Extreme Slaughter Sect and Extinction Palace feel threatened?”
“Hahaha!” Yu Hyeoksim burst into raucous laughter. “If you’ve thought that far, there’s no need for further words.” With a nod of his head, the bushes around the mountain path shook all at once.
Simultaneously, black mist rose from the ground, and shadowy figures began to appear one by one.
They were the poison masters of the Poison Demon Hall, the most bizarre and cruel poison experts of the Hell's Blood Fortress.
“You killed the Beggar King, so I specially brought the entire Poison Demon Hall,” Yu Hyeoksim said, narrowing his eyes and speaking in a low voice. “If you kneel now and apologize for your wrongs against our fortress, I’ll let you return to Majeon unharmed.”
The Poison Demon Hall was the Hell's Blood Fortress’s most elite division, incomparably stronger than the Cold-Blooded Ghosts Bu Eunseol had faced before.
Even if Bu Eunseol had reached the peak of the Supreme Heaven Realm, he could not face them alone. The Hell's Blood Fortress had prepared thoroughly to ensure his death without leaving any room for escape.
“Stop talking nonsense and make your move,” Bu Eunseol said.
“Fine. Let’s begin,” Yu Hyeoksim replied with a confident expression, raising his hand.
Flash! Dash.
Purple lightning struck from the sky, and dozens of warriors descended as if from the heavens.
Clad in glossy purple robes and wearing purple masks, they were the Death Soul Corps, Heaven and Earth Severing Sect’s most elite martial division.
“Brother Bu,” said a figure in blue robes landing beside Bu Eunseol. It was Hyeok Sojin, his expression and gaze filled with solemn resolve. “This isn’t something you need to handle.”
He spoke with utmost gravity. “This is my matter.”
“What a pity,” Yu Hyeoksim said, grinning as he saw Hyeok Sojin and the Death Soul Corps. “Elder Sect Leader raised his grandson poorly. It seems Heaven and Earth Severing Sect will end in this generation.”
“It’s irrelevant,” Hyeok Sojin said firmly. “We’ve all just been expelled from Heaven and Earth Severing Sect.”
Yu Hyeoksim’s face stiffened.
Hyeok Sojin and the Death Soul Corps had forsaken their status and position in Heaven and Earth Severing Sect to come here and aid Bu Eunseol.
“What a bizarre stunt,” Yu Hyeoksim said, regaining his composure. “Do you think being expelled absolves Heaven and Earth Severing Sect of responsibility?”
“Not entirely,” Hyeok Sojin replied, his sharp gaze sweeping over Yu Hyeoksim. “But it eliminates the justification that our faction colluded to destroy the Hell's Blood Fortress.”
Taking a deep breath, he spoke softly. “As long as our faction’s legacy endures, it doesn’t matter. As long as we live, we can always rise again.”
Caught off guard by this unexpected development, Yu Hyeoksim was flustered. Hyeok Sojin and the Death Soul Corps were willing to sacrifice themselves to protect Bu Eunseol’s life.
“Leave,” Bu Eunseol said in a low voice. “Don’t cause unnecessary trouble.”
“Brother Bu,” Hyeok Sojin protested.
“It’s enough,” Bu Eunseol said, smiling faintly at Yu Hyeoksim. “After all, the Azure Flower is already in my hands.”
“Hmph, what nonsense is that?” Yu Hyeoksim scoffed.
Bu Eunseol held out a necklace with a blue jade pendant.
“How do you have that?!” Yu Hyeoksim exclaimed, frantically pulling out the wooden box from his robes.
“…” He stared in shock.
Opening the box, he saw the Azure Flower intact. So what was the Azure Flower in Bu Eunseol’s hand?
“As expected, this is the Azure Flower,” Bu Eunseol said, nodding as he observed Yu Hyeoksim’s expression.
He removed the necklace and handed it to Hyeok Sojin. “Take it to Elder Sect Leader. Tell him this is the Azure Flower.”
“Brother Bu, how… what happened?” Hyeok Sojin asked.
“I just wanted to confirm if this was the Azure Flower,” Bu Eunseol replied.
Using his Beast Way, he had overheard all of Yu Hyeoksim’s words.
—There are only two Azure Flowers in the martial world. One was lost by the Affectionate Blossom Sect…
Hearing this, he recalled the necklace Dan So-ok had given him.
The blue jade, extraordinary at a glance, always emitted a warm aura.
But he hadn’t known exactly what the Azure Flower was.
So he blocked Yu Hyeoksim’s path to verify it.
“I’ve had it all along,” Bu Eunseol said, swallowing the words ‘though it’s not mine to claim’ and nodding at Yu Hyeoksim. “Thank you for confirming it.”
Yu Hyeoksim was fuming. How could Bu Eunseol possess a piece of the Azure Flower, said to have vanished long ago?
‘Geuk Hyeryeong. Did that old hag lie? No, that’s impossible.’
The loss of the Azure Flower from the Affectionate Blossom Sect was decades ago. There was no way she had been deceiving them for decades.
“And tell the Hell's Blood Fortress Leader,” Bu Eunseol said, his eyes blazing like flames as he looked down at Yu Hyeoksim. “Since you’ve repeatedly obstructed my path, I won’t sit idly by any longer.”
“Hmph, what can you do if you don’t sit idly by?” Yu Hyeoksim retorted.
“Worrying about what I’ll do comes later,” Bu Eunseol said calmly. “Today’s events will be reported in detail to the Demon Emperor. No need for me to say more.”
Yu Hyeoksim’s expression changed drastically.
The Hell's Blood Fortress had suffered setbacks every time it targeted Bu Eunseol, even losing its successor status. Today’s events would undoubtedly further tarnish their reputation. Worse, if this reached the Demon Emperor’s ears, it could spiral out of control.
Bu Eunseol muttered in a voice mixed with contempt and mockery, “So this is the level of the vaunted Hell's Blood Fortress.”
Yu Hyeoksim trembled but couldn’t speak.
In truth, this entire plan—using Hyeok Gongbaek’s illness to isolate Bu Eunseol from Heaven and Earth Severing Sect—was his alone.
—Bu Eunseol. Kill him or diminish Heaven and Earth Severing Sect’s influence. One of the two must succeed!
He had boasted confidently to the Hell's Blood Fortress Leader, certain the plan couldn’t fail. Even in the worst case, he’d simply return with the Azure Flower. But Bu Eunseol already had an Azure Flower, an utterly unforeseen outcome.
Yu Hyeoksim looked at the sky with a wretched expression.
Man plans, but heaven decides. In the end, success was in the hands of fate. Far from succeeding, he had dragged the Hell's Blood Fortress’s honor through the mud.
The moment he returned, he would have to offer his neck.
***
A wide clay pot on a brazier held clear water.
When a blood-red leaf was placed in it, the water began to boil furiously, turning crimson. It was the Crimson Pipe Leaf, plucked from the Fire Spirit Tree that bore the Fire Spirit Divine Fruit.
Upon learning of Hyeok Gongbaek’s Bone-Seizing Terminal Disease, Heaven and Earth Severing Sect had spent a fortune to acquire this leaf.
Bubble, bubble.
As the water boiled, a blue-tinted jade was added.
It was the Azure Flower, one of only two supreme treasures left in the martial world.
Hiss.
When the water touched the Azure Flower, it emitted white steam and transformed into a thick, red liquid in an instant. This was the Crimson Jade Divine Water, capable of curing all ailments of the body’s meridians and nerves.
Click.
When the Azure Flower was retrieved, its blue glow vanished, leaving it a transparent stone.
Its spiritual energy depleted, it had become ordinary.
Drinking the Crimson Jade Divine Water, Hyeok Gongbaek was cured of the Bone-Seizing Terminal Disease as if washed clean.
“I don’t know how to express my gratitude,” Hyeok Gongbaek said, his majestic aura as a supreme demonic lord restored. “Tell me, how can I repay the debt I owe you?”
Bu Eunseol smiled faintly and answered calmly, “I merely repaid the debt I owed Sojin.”
“Debt,” Hyeok Gongbaek echoed, suppressing his overwhelming emotions with a deep sigh.
This young grandmaster always wore a cold expression and showed no mercy to enemies.
Yet he protected those around him like they were his life.
“All I asked was for you to awaken my grandson’s latent potential,” Hyeok Gongbaek said, unable to hide his emotions. “But you gave Sojin invaluable experiences and teachings that no amount of money could buy. Moreover, you elevated his martial realm to boundless heights…”
Pausing, Hyeok Gongbaek bowed respectfully to Bu Eunseol. “Thank you, truly.”
Hyeok Gongbaek, a legendary demonic master who had never bowed even to the Demon Emperor.
Elder Sect Leader of Heaven and Earth Severing Sect, one of the Ten Demonic Sects, was expressing his gratitude with a bow.
The next day, thousands stood in formation before Heaven and Earth Severing Sect’s main gate. All the warriors and members of the faction, including Hyeok Gongbaek, stood solemnly.
“Brother Bu,” Hyeok Sojin said, bowing deeply to Bu Eunseol as he turned to leave. “Until we meet again, take care.”
His eyes burned with a fiery light, like a furnace.
Bu Eunseol had been a strict teacher and companion, nurturing his wisdom and martial arts like a parent.
“Keep striving,” Bu Eunseol said, nodding calmly and clasping his hands toward Hyeok Gongbaek. “I’ll take my leave.”
As Bu Eunseol paid his respects, Hyeok Gongbaek returned the gesture with equal solemnity.
Clap.
All the warriors of Heaven and Earth Severing Sect followed suit, paying their respects.
It was a tribute to the benefactor who had restored the former glory of Heaven and Earth Severing Sect, once a dominant force in the martial world…
And a show of reverence for the future ruler destined to lead the million-strong demonic path.
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