In his office, Bu Eunseol was tirelessly writing letters.
The annihilation of the Five Poisons Sect had caused a massive stir in both the demonic and righteous martial worlds.
It brought the issue of child abductions across the Central Plains to the forefront.
As a result, various righteous factions, including the Martial Alliance, as well as black and gray factions, were contacting Majeon for cooperation. This was an unprecedented phenomenon, driven by the emergence of Bu Eunseol, an exceptional successor.
A knock on the door was followed by a familiar voice.
“It’s Yoo Unryong.”
“Come in,” Bu Eunseol said softly, engrossed in his writing.
Yoo Unryong entered with a grim expression. Seeing this, Bu Eunseol sighed.
He could tell the situation without asking.
“Why didn’t you send her away?”
“My office was full of all the leaders, including Myo Cheonwoo.”
“Hmm.” Bu Eunseol let out a low groan.
It was something even he hadn’t anticipated. He had hoped Yoo Unryong would handle it quietly, but to think all his leaders were gathered in his office?
“No choice, then.” It wasn’t something he could avoid.
But Bu Eunseol had no time to deal with this “betrothal fiasco.”
He had uncovered and annihilated the Five Poisons Sect, nurtured by hidden forces for decades.
Those forces wouldn’t sit idly by.
‘I hoped it would pass quietly.’
But with Yeon Soha drawn by the rumors, he could no longer ignore it. Moreover, he needed to know how she had uncovered his identity.
“Fine. I’ll go.” Sighing, Bu Eunseol rose.
***
Crimson Blossom Pavilion
The name of a pavilion in the garden within the Suppressed Demon Pavilion.
Following a path lined with exotic flowers, one would find a small bridge and a beautiful pond. The Crimson Blossom Pavilion stood there, built for enjoying tea or the scenery on pleasant days. As Bu Eunseol arrived, a stunning woman in white gazed at the sky from the bridge over the pond.
She was breathtakingly beautiful.
Her slightly sun-kissed hair framed dark eyes that seemed to hold all the world’s light.
Below her refined nose, her rosy lips revealed neat teeth.
It was Yeon Soha.
“It’s been a while, Lady Yeon.” As Bu Eunseol approached, she turned from gazing at the sky.
“Young Master Bu.” Her large eyes shimmered with misty emotion.
Love, resentment, longing, and waiting…
With a single glance, Yeon Soha conveyed all her feelings to Bu Eunseol.
“No, I should call you Lord now.”
Feeling guilty, Bu Eunseol shifted his gaze to the pond.
In the past, as the mercenary Seolso, Bu Eunseol had been eager to duel the Floating Sky Leader, Jeong Cheon.
In his haste, without gathering proper information, he had rashly taken on the mission to steal the Divine Origin Pearl. Though he had narrowly escaped the palace by exploiting the disapproval of the Divine Maiden Palace Master, Yeon Jami…
He had deeply hurt Yeon Soha, who had opened her heart to him.
“How did you know to come here?” As the silence lingered, Bu Eunseol had no choice but to ask the question on his mind.
Only Black Leopard knew the true identity of the mercenary Seolso.
If Black Leopard hadn’t leaked his identity, Bu Eunseol would need to overhaul his entire plan. If the Divine Maiden Palace had uncovered his hidden identity, it meant his past actions had been fully exposed by an intelligence network.
“A mercenary named Seolso appeared again in the Red Sky Veil.” Yeon Soha spoke in a trembling voice, barely suppressing her emotions. “When you cut off contact and didn’t return, I had no choice but to mobilize all the palace’s resources to find the mercenary Seolso.”
She had known Bu Eunseol would eventually reappear as Seolso.
So she directed all her intelligence efforts toward the Shaanxi mercenary market, the Red Sky Veil, to track him.
And finally, she followed his trail when he reappeared there. But after he left for the Martial Alliance, his tracks vanished again. In the end, Yeon Soha resorted to her final option.
She went to Black Leopard at Dongpyoseorang and pleaded.
“Help me find him.” Sensing her sincerity, Black Leopard reluctantly revealed Bu Eunseol’s identity.
Not out of weakness, but because he instinctively felt she was Bu Eunseol’s other half…
Or so he claimed, insisting she pass on his cheeky excuse.
“I see.” Hearing the full story, Bu Eunseol inwardly sighed in relief.
Dealing with that insolent Black Leopard would come later. For now, it was critical that his dual identity as Seolso hadn’t been exposed.
“Even after learning your identity, I tried not to seek you out,” Yeon Soha said with a pained expression. “As the successor of Majeon, you have much to do. I could have waited longer.”
Her eyes welled up with tears again.
“But recently, I heard the successor of Majeon was choosing a bride, forgetting all the promises made to me.”
Her sorrowful weeping made even the cold Bu Eunseol feel guilty.
For the first time, he felt resentment toward Yeop Hyocheon. He didn’t know what schemes Yeop Hyocheon was hiding. But hadn’t he spread baseless rumors, causing Yeon Soha to come seeking him?
“It’s a false rumor.”
“Even the sect’s guards know of it. You’re saying I misheard?”
“Of course. I’d stake my life on it.” Bu Eunseol pointed to his neck with a serious expression.
His demeanor was so resolute and solemn…
Yeon Soha couldn’t help but burst into laughter through her teary eyes.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Bu Eunseol calmly explained the situation.
It started with Yeop Hyocheon’s proposal, and he had deliberately spread the rumor. And Bu Eunseol had no intention of getting betrothed.
“Good. I’ll believe you.” Fortunately, Yeon Soha trusted his words. “There’s no reason for you to fabricate such a lie to convince me.”
“I’m grateful you understand.” For the first time, Bu Eunseol felt genuine gratitude toward Yeon Soha.
If she had been a woman blinded by jealousy, this could have been a headache.
“But since the Chief Instructor has such intentions, I can’t rest easy,” she said calmly.
“Then what would put you at ease?”
“I’ll stay here for a while and personally ensure the rumors die down.”
“You mean stay in the pavilion?”
“You stayed in our palace, didn’t you?”
Though gentle and calm, Yeon Soha wasn’t a woman who merely wept and pined for love. Befitting the future Palace Master of the Divine Maiden Palace, she was meticulous and decisive.
“Or is there no room for a mere young palace master of a small faction?”
“Of course not. It’s just…”
“If there’s no place here, I’ll ask the Demon Emperor or the Chief Instructor.”
That was absolutely unacceptable.
Like a waiter, Bu Eunseol quickly pointed to the Suppressed Demon Pavilion.
“There are plenty of comfortable places to rest here. Since I owe the Divine Maiden Palace, feel free to stay.”
“Thank you. I’ll go rest then.”
“Very well.” As Yeon Soha turned to leave, she looked back with a determined expression.
“I don’t ask for much from you.” She smiled softly, “If the betrothal rumors disappear, I’ll leave immediately. So don’t feel burdened by my presence.”
Bu Eunseol was now in trouble.
He should have sent Yeon Soha back to the Divine Maiden Palace, even by force. Because her staying in the Suppressed Demon Pavilion sparked another strange rumor in Majeon.
“The Martial Soul Command Lord has a fiancée?”
The rumor started in the Suppressed Demon Pavilion.
Yeon Soha herself was unabashed about explaining her identity and situation.
“Yes, I am his fiancée, his betrothed.” As she boldly declared this, the sect’s members began to doubt the rumor.
“Nonsense.”
Bu Eunseol, the successor of Nangyang Pavilion, was a true demonic warrior.
To think he was the son-in-law of the Divine Maiden Palace, which followed the righteous path? The gap between them was too vast.
“They say the Divine Maiden Palace Master fell ill because the Young Palace Master ran away.”
But as rumors spread that Yeon Soha had run away and the Palace Master had taken ill, Majeon began to accept it.
“So it was a love escape.”
It wasn’t unheard of for demonic and righteous figures to fall in love.
For a while, Majeon buzzed with talk of Yeon Soha.
And the Death Shadow Corps was filled with rare vitality.
One of the three most beautiful women in the world was staying in the Suppressed Demon Pavilion, caring for the subordinates.
She had brought many treasures from the Divine Maiden Palace to share with Bu Eunseol and his men. Not only the leaders but even the lowliest guards received generous sums. Moreover, while staying in the pavilion, she cooked delicious meals and treated the subordinates kindly…
Some hotheaded warriors were already calling her “Great Lady!”
***
Yoo Unryong’s Office
As always, Yoo Unryong sat at his desk, organizing books. At the table, as expected, Myo Cheonwoo and the other Death Shadow Corps leaders were gathered.
“Jin Seol is beautiful, but compared to Yeon Soha, one of the three most beautiful women, she falls short,” Myo Cheonwoo said.
Won Semun nodded, “Right. And the Young Palace Master has wealth rivaling the Affectionate Blossom Sect.”
Jo Namcheon clapped, “Her cooking is amazing too. That tofu dish I had was phenomenal.”
“And her gentle personality means we won’t get scolded unless we really mess up,” Wi Cheongyeong added.
Myo Cheonwoo said gravely, “Then we’re agreed. The Lord’s spouse will be Lady Yeon.”
Clap, clap, clap.
As they applauded, Yoo Unryong waved his hand irritably, “If you’re done, get out.”
“Yoo Unryong, you agree, right?” Myo Cheonwoo asked seriously.
Yoo Unryong’s forehead vein throbbed, “I’m busy to death, so stop the nonsense and leave!”
“Why so grumpy? We’ll go,” Myo Cheonwoo grumbled, and the others followed him out.
“Phew.” With those rowdy men gone, the air felt cleaner.
Yoo Unryong took a deep breath to calm himself. He hated to admit it, but he was better suited as a scholar than a warrior.
‘Is it really in the blood?’ When Bu Eunseol first assigned him paperwork and management, he was resentful.
But it turned out to suit him well.
Doing paperwork felt like meditation, calming his spirit and sharpening his focus. Of course, he didn’t neglect martial training or teaching his subordinates.
Unlike other warriors, paperwork honed his spirit.
‘Maybe it’s time to use the Ten-Section Staff Technique.’ Recently, he had found an enjoyable hobby.
Writing a martial arts manual called the Ten-Section Staff Technique. The ten-section staff was a weapon he had painstakingly created, but it was so unique even he hadn’t fully mastered it.
‘Bu Eunseol, your martial arts may surpass mine, but one day, this manual will outshine yours.’
He knew Bu Eunseol was writing a martial arts manual.
And he aimed to create the Ten-Section Staff Technique to leave his own mark on the martial world. As Yoo Unryong reached for the manual on the shelf, a knock came.
“Leader,” Mu Gwang’s voice called. “It’s Mu Gwang.”
“Come in.” Mu Gwang entered cautiously and clasped his hands. “What’s the matter?”
“The successor of the Sword Pavilion has requested a spar with the Lord.”
Thud.
Yoo Unryong dropped his brush.
What kind of bolt from the blue was this?
“What’s that supposed to mean? Why is the Sword Pavilion’s successor here?” Eyes wide, Yoo Unryong listened as Mu Gwang calmly explained.
“With the Five Poisons Sect incident, many factions have been requesting cooperation, haven’t they?”
“And?”
“The Sword Pavilion sent their successor to our sect.” The righteous factions had been investigating child abductions across the Central Plains.
Many factions had requested information sharing about the Five Poisons Sect to find leads.
“And?”
“The Lord holds all the information about the Five Poisons Sect, doesn’t he? So I guided her to him, and she suddenly requested a spar.”
“She just asked for a spar?”
“Apparently, she knows the Lord. She was amazed at his enhanced prowess and requested a spar.”
Yoo Unryong frowned, confused, “Then just spar with her. Why come to me?”
“Well…” Mu Gwang scratched his head, “The Lord told her to defeat all the Death Shadow Corps’ masters first.”
“What?”
“Just now, Leader Myo said Leader Jo got thrashed, so you should hurry to the training ground.”
Thud.
Yoo Unryong set down his book and sat, “Those leeches!”
They could just spar and lose or fall.
Why drag him, working peacefully in his office, into this?
“Why me?” Yoo Unryong stared glumly at his book.
Writing the Ten-Section Staff Technique in his spare time was his joy.
But lately, he couldn’t even sit comfortably in his office.
“Tell them I’m not going.”
“Pardon?”
“Say I’m borrowing books from the History and Classics Institute…”
Boom.
Won Semun’s direct subordinates burst into Yoo Unryong’s office.
“Leader Yoo! Hurry! Leader Wi is barely holding on!” From their tone, the Sword Pavilion’s successor had already defeated Won Semun and was now fighting Wi Cheongyeong.
“Those…” Yoo Unryong clenched his fists.
As expected of Won Semun’s men, barging into his office like rogues.
“Tell Myo Cheonwoo to go first!”
Finally losing his patience, Yoo Unryong roared, “I’m a scholar! I don’t do spars!”
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