“Master Cheon.”
Bu Eunseol politely clasped his hands and bowed at the waist.
Cheon Ungwang smiled faintly at that.
“How could the rightful heir of Majeon bow to a mere hall leader of a sword sect?”
Bu Eunseol replied politely. “Aren’t you the master who taught me the fundamentals of advanced swordsmanship?”
“Master, huh.” Cheon Ungwang gazed at the distant sky and sighed deeply. “Hell Island was a place filled with beasts who had abandoned all human decency. And you’re saying you found a master-disciple bond there?”
“To me, it was a place that taught me martial arts and the ways of the martial world. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Huhuhu.” Cheon Ungwang’s faint laughter somehow seemed detached, like that of someone who had transcended worldly affairs.
“If you think of it that way, then this leader should play the role of master one more time.”
This was strange.
Cheon Ungwang had originally been a fearsome swordsman exuding an imposing aura.
But now, all the killing intent that had surrounded his body was completely gone. Even his eyes were pouring out a vacant energy like that of a Taoist?
“First, let me ask one thing. Why did you seek me out?” In response to Cheon Ungwang’s question, Bu Eunseol once again politely clasped his hands.
“I came to return the Unmatched Thunderbolt”
And he slowly drew his ink-black sword.
Srrung.
A low sword hum resonated as the ink-tinted blade revealed itself.
Flash!
At the same time, a zigzag purple sword light pierced toward Cheon Ungwang’s neck. It was truly the lightning-like Unmatched Thunderbolt unfolding.
“Excellent.” Cheon Ungwang, looking at the Black Blade that had stopped precisely in front of his neck, nodded.
Bu Eunseol’s Unmatched Thunderbolt had already reached its peak, comparable even to Cheon Ungwang, who had honed his sword for decades.
“And this is the Unmatched Thunderbolt I’m returning to you.”
Kurung.
At that moment, the giant tree behind Cheon Ungwang split into three pieces.
Bu Eunseol had advanced the Unmatched Thunderbolt further, overlapping three strikes in different directions with a single motion.
Srruk.
At the same time, chaotic lines were drawn on the ground near where Cheon Ungwang stood.
It was a diagram that allowed even an ordinary person without killing intent to perform the perfect form of Unmatched Thunderbolt
Clack.
Bu Eunseol sheathed his sword again and bowed his head.
“Thanks to the sword technique you taught me, I was able to overcome many crises.”
Bu Eunseol had left the completed Unmatched Thunderbolt at Hwa Wu Sword Sect as repayment to Cheon Ungwang.
“And now, I’d like to return my own completed version of Jeonroe Mussang to Hwa Wu Sword Sect.”
“You intend to destroy this sect.” Realizing Bu Eunseol’s intention, Cheon Ungwang let out a turbid sigh. “To destroy this sect without hesitation, you repaid your debt to this leader.”
Bu Eunseol meeting him to settle their debt. He guessed that it was so that when he shattered Hwa Wu Sword Sect in the future, there would be no hesitation.
“If necessary… yes, that’s the plan.”
“Huhuhu.” Cheon Ungwang laughed lowly, then,
Swish!
Suddenly, he extended his index and middle fingers to form a finger sword, aiming at Bu Eunseol’s chest acupoint.
Tsts.
Bu Eunseol immediately unfolded Swift Beyond Shadow to escape the sharp finger sword’s trajectory.
“Master Cheon.”
“No need for long words.” Cheon Ungwang, pointing his finger sword at Bu Eunseol, said calmly. “How could I let someone who has declared they’ll destroy this sect go free?”
Swish!
The range of sword qi pouring from the finger sword expanded and split into several branches, sealing off even the retreat paths. Bu Eunseol tried to escape the sword qi’s range by fully unfolding Swift Beyond Shadow.
But no matter which direction he moved, the finger sword repeatedly gathered and dispersed, relentlessly targeting Bu Eunseol’s chest acupoint.
It was very similar to the sword technique Ok Yuha had used in the sword pavilion before.
'Is he serious?' From Cheon Ungwang’s middle and index fingers, inner energy strands capable of piercing iron in an instant were flowing out.
If hit by that, flesh wounds aside, the meridians would shatter into pieces instantly.
Tststs.
Hwiing!
Unable to immediately escape the finger sword’s range, a faint light began to flow from Bu Eunseol’s fist. At the same time, he unleashed the mighty fist power of the Seven Fist Demon Forms to cut off Cheon Ungwang’s finger sword in one go.
Swish!
But Cheon Ungwang’s finger sword flexibly evaded the fist power’s assault like a living creature, then split into dozens of strands again.
Hwiririk!
Bu Eunseol rotated his body obliquely to avoid the finger sword’s attack. But as if predicting the evasion, Cheon Ungwang’s finger sword changed again, targeting Bu Eunseol’s chest acupoint upon landing.
It was as if nothing would satisfy him until he pierced that spot.
Tststs.
In that instant, Bu Eunseol’s body began to turn hazy white.
Swift Beyond Shadow. In the time of one breath, Bu Eunseol changed directions ninety times.
Swiiik!
But Cheon Ungwang’s finger sword, though simple in appearance, hid profound changes. As Bu Eunseol changed directions dozens of times in a short moment, the finger sword also read those changes and persistently pursued him.
It felt like some living thing clinging to his body, refusing to let go.
'Nine times. So that’s it.'
Bu Eunseol finally saw it.
The move Cheon Ungwang had unleashed was bending a lightning-fast quick sword nine times in the air.
'This is impossible.'
A quick sword is a technique that passes the shortest distance to pierce the enemy’s vital points most quickly.
In other words, it’s a technique that absolutely cannot bend.
If it bends midway, it becomes a chain sword technique, not a quick sword that breaks through the shortest distance. But even though Cheon Ungwang had bent the sword path nine times, wasn’t it passing through the shortest distance like a quick sword?
'Can it still be called a quick sword even if bent nine times?'
Astonishingly, it was possible.
Because the straight quick sword and the nine-bent quick sword arrived at the same speed.
Paat!
In the end, the finger sword grazed Bu Eunseol’s chest acupoint, leaving a wound on the flesh. Even after changing directions ninety times in the air with full effort, he couldn’t completely avoid Cheon Ungwang’s finger sword.
'A living sword technique.' Looking down at Cheon Ungwang’s finger sword, Bu Eunseol even felt a subtle admiration.
A sword path like a living organism, similar to what the Sword Venerable had shown in the past. Cheon Ungwang had also unfolded a living sword technique that changed according to the enemy’s movements.
“Why didn’t you draw your sword and counterattack?”
To Cheon Ungwang’s question, Bu Eunseol replied lowly.
“You showed only killing momentum, but no killing intent, did you not?”
If Cheon Ungwang had truly intended to kill Bu Eunseol? He wouldn’t have obsessively targeted only the chest acupoint. He had deliberately fixed the target to one spot so that Bu Eunseol could easily discern the sword path’s changes.
“Is this the sword intent of the Hwa Wu Sword?”
“No way.” Cheon Ungwang said with a bitter smile. “This leader has already honed the killing sword to its extreme, so I couldn’t attain the highest mystery of Hwa Wu Sword.”
His eyes were filled only with vacant energy.
“However, this sword move can be said to be the end of the struggles of a disciple who ultimately couldn’t master Hwa Wu Sword…”
Originally, Cheon Ungwang was a peerless talent who could master all the sword techniques of the world-renowned Hwa Wu Sword Sect.
But in the past, when his fiancée was killed by wicked hands, his sword became a killing sword wielded by a demon. A killing sword can easily kill enemies, but it cannot become the Hwa Wu Sword that encompasses ten thousand swords.
Yet he didn’t give up the path of the sword; instead, he created Unmatched Thunderbolt, reaching the extreme of killing sword. And now, through long seclusion… he had abandoned the killing sword and attained another new sword technique.
Cheon Ungwang showed a dry smile.
“If you can combine this Nine Dragons Flashing Thunder’s initial move with Unmatched Thunderbolt… it will truly give birth to an unavoidable lethal sword path.”
If you could change the Unmatched Thunderbolt, which breaks through the shortest distance like lightning, nine times?
No matter how great the movement technique or evasion, it would be absolutely unavoidable.
'So that’s why you performed Unmatched Thunderbolt as a quick sword, not a killing sword technique.'
If Cheon Ungwang had raised his killing intent and unfolded this technique? Bu Eunseol wouldn’t have been able to appreciate the changes, let alone avoid them.
Nine Dragons Flashing Thunder.
This sword move could truly be called the pinnacle of killing sword.
Cheon Ungwang said in a low voice.
“This is the last teaching I impart to you.”
Cheon Ungwang.
He had once again imparted to Bu Eunseol a sword move containing all his sword essence.
“Why are you teaching me this sword art?”
The sword move Cheon Ungwang created was outstanding enough to be preserved in Hwa Wu Sword Sect for generations and passed down to posterity. So why impart this technique to an outsider, moreover one who said he might destroy Hwa Wu Sword Sect?
Could it be revenge against Hwa Wu Sword Sect that rejected him?
“Probably… because I cherish and love this sect too much.” Cheon Ungwang, uttering paradoxical words, looked at Bu Eunseol and faintly smiled.
“You’ll understand someday.”
Then, in a low voice, he said. “And become stronger.”
“…….”
“There are still many prodigies in the martial world that you don’t know about. Also, there are martial arts that transcend the stages you should rightfully pass through.” Cheon Ungwang wore a gentle smile as if looking at a beloved disciple. “I hope this sword technique becomes one of the layered platforms… that allows you to stand shoulder to shoulder with them someday.”
“Master.”
“Take care.”
Cheon Ungwang turned back toward the thatched hut. Even after receiving amnesty, he intended to continue staying in the thatched hut.
“Master….”
Although they hadn’t performed the nine bows ceremony to formally establish a master-disciple relationship. But Cheon Ungwang had generously passed on all his essence to Bu Eunseol, and Bu Eunseol had steadfastly inherited Cheon Ungwang’s sword art essence.
What stronger master-disciple bond could there be than this?
“Please, take care.” Bu Eunseol bowed deeply at the waist and saluted. Then, very politely, he slowly turned around.
Leaving the thatched hut where Cheon Ungwang stayed, Bu Eunseol headed back to the hall where the banquet was being held. But upon entering the path to the hall, a familiar face appeared in the distance.
The face was like that of a pure boy, with a mischievous smile somehow.
Moreover, his body lines were even slimmer than Bu Eunseol’s, so at first glance, he looked like a beautiful woman with the grace of flower petals scattering in the wind.
It was Weiji Hyesang.
“The servant you brought drank too much.” When Weiji Hyesang turned around, there were about ten warriors, and behind them stood a warrior in a disheveled state, being supported.
It was Won Semun.
“He caused such a ruckus while drunk that I ordered him to be locked in the thunder prison for a while. But it seems my subordinates handled him roughly.”
Then he tilted his head. At that, the subordinates dragged Won Semun and placed him in front of Bu Eunseol.
With a thud, Won Semun collapsed to the ground.
“You should choose your servants properly from now on. Such a person will eventually tarnish the lord’s face.”
Wooong!
In an instant, tremendous aura rose from Bu Eunseol’s body.
“Ugh.” Then, the ten or so warriors around Weiji Hyesang clutched their throats with pained expressions.
Formless qi.
The enraged Bu Eunseol had unleashed formless qi to choke the breaths of dozens of warriors.
“Oh.” Then, delight flowed from Weiji Hyesang’s eyes.
No matter if he was Majeon’s heir, if he killed people inside Hwa Wu Sword Sect?
Even the Demon Emperor couldn’t cover it up.
“Are you serious?” Instead of answering, Bu Eunseol’s eyes grew thicker with bloodlust.
Then, the warriors’ faces turned even paler. He truly intended to kill them.
Grab.
At that moment, Won Semun twitched and grabbed Bu Eunseol’s ankle.
“I’m fine. My Lord.” Won Semun, with all his strength, held Bu Eunseol’s ankle and raised his body. “There’s no need to fight them.”
Bu Eunseol stopped unleashing formless qi and supported Won Semun. Then, Won Semun revealed his white teeth stained with blood and smiled.
‘Your prediction was correct.’ Barely raising his body, Won Semun sent continuous voice transmissions. ‘It wasn’t Chief Wi Hyeok-gun, but that empty-headed guy who is truly overseeing all affairs of Hwa Wu Sword Sect.’
In an instant, a flash passed through Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
From the beginning, Bu Eunseol had found Hwa Wu Sword Sect’s actions strange. He had heard long ago that Weiji Mu-a had not been involved in sect affairs.
—Then, is it Wi Hyeok-gun?
Bu Eunseol, who had closely investigated Hwa Wu Sword Sect, shook his head.
The Wi Hyeok-gun he saw in Hell Island might have world-shaking martial prowess, but he was not someone who could handle sect business or affairs.
—If not Weiji Mu-a or Wi Hyeok-gun, who is running Hwa Wu Sword Sect?
After deep contemplation, before coming to Hwa Wu Sword Sect, Bu Eunseol gave Won Semun a secret order.
While he met Weiji Mu-a alone, Won Semun was to deliberately get heavily drunk and cause a commotion, getting himself locked in Hwa Wu Sword Sect’s thunder prison.
Won Semun was not only from Majeon but also Bu Eunseol’s direct subordinate, the Martial Soul Command Lord. To kill or punish him, it couldn’t be a deputy leader-level person; it had to be someone of higher status than Bu Eunseol.
That is, the sect leader had to step in.
Locked in the thunder prison, Won Semun began cursing Weiji Hyesang and Wi Hyeok-gun alternately to the guarding warriors.
That way, he could subtly compare the two’s statuses within Hwa Wu Sword Sect.
—Putting Wi Hyeok-gun and Weiji Hyesang side by side?
While cursing Wi Hyeok-gun and Weiji Hyesang in the thunder prison, Won Semun was greatly surprised by the disciples’ reactions. Weren’t the warriors implicitly treating the chief, who handles sect affairs, Wi Hyeok-gun, and the next heir Weiji Hyesang as equals?
Some disciples even feared Weiji Hyesang more than Wi Hyeok-gun and reacted more sensitively.
—No, this alone isn’t enough to know.
But soon, Won Semun could discern who was leading Hwa Wu Sword Sect between the two.
The one who released Won Semun from the thunder prison was none other than Weiji Hyesang. Moreover, Weiji Hyesang repeatedly said the reason for releasing Won Semun was due to his friendship with Bu Eunseol and his own generosity.
If he had come on Wi Hyeok-gun’s orders, he couldn’t have said that. In other words, the one with the most powerful position in Hwa Wu Sword Sect, handling all affairs…
Was not Wi Hyeok-gun, but the young heir, Weiji Hyesang.
“You’ve trampled him well.” After hearing all of Won Semun’s voice transmissions, Bu Eunseol glared at Weiji Hyesang and spoke. “At this level, he should be able to absorb every bit of the medicine’s effect.”
Then, he took out a pill from his bosom and put it into Won Semun’s mouth.
It was the Purple Dawn Pill from Mount Hua Sect that he had obtained before.
Gurgle.
The pill melted like water upon touching saliva and was sucked into Won Semun’s throat. At the same time, a warm heat began to rise from his organs and bones.
This elixir from Mount Hua Sect excels in treating both internal and external injuries. And the worse the patient’s condition, the faster its effects manifest.
“Circulate your energy immediately. So that the medicine’s effect can be absorbed quickly.” At Bu Eunseol’s words, Won Semun immediately sat cross-legged on the ground and began circulating energy.
Then, steam began to rise from his head.
‘I thought he just drank every day, but he’s been diligently honing his inner energy.’ Won Semun, whom he thought spent every night drinking, had actually been secretly and tirelessly practicing martial arts.
‘I just need to help a little.’ Bu Eunseol immediately began injecting pure Ban-geuk Energy into his Dazhui acupoint.
Wooong!
As Ban-geuk Energy penetrated his meridians, a colorful, radiant golden flower shape formed above Won Semun’s head… and soon became three flower buds.
Three flowers at the Crown.
The effect of Purple Dawn Pill, Won Semun’s diligently cultivated true energy. Combined with Bu Eunseol’s Ban-geuk Energy, it allowed a leap to a higher realm.
Flash!
Finally, as Won Semun finished circulating, a sharp light rose from his eyes.
He sprang up like a coil and bowed his head.
“Thank you, my Lord.” The warriors of Hwa Wu Sword Sect were greatly surprised that Won Semun, who had been on the verge of death, not only recovered his vitality in one go but also increased his power.
Bu Eunseol looked at Weiji Hyesang and said coldly.
“I’ve received your generous hospitality well.” Then, he turned around with Won Semun.
“Leaving already?” Weiji Hyesang quickly spoke up. As if unwilling to lose control. “You’ve come all this way, so let’s have a drink together.”
“If you had treated him properly and politely, perhaps.” Bu Eunseol said calmly. “Even when beating a dog, one looks at the owner.”
In fact, Bu Eunseol had intended to have many conversations with Weiji Hyesang as well. But upon learning that he had been leading the Hwa Wu Sword Sect all along and had reduced Won Semun to this state, he clearly felt it.
Weiji Hyesang was an enemy.
No matter how polite his words and attitude, it was just hiding his true intentions. Thus, there was no need to converse with him.
Step step.
As Bu Eunseol walked away without looking back, Weiji Hyesang’s eyes folded like half-moons.
‘Are you finding the descendants of Eight Emperors and Three Stars well?’
In an instant, Bu Eunseol’s steps halted.
Searching for the descendants of Eight Emperors and Three Stars. That was something only Bu Eunseol, his deputies Myo Cheonwoo and Yoo Unryong plus the other Death Shadow Corps captains, and the Nine Deaths Squad leader So Jamyeong knew.
How did Weiji Hyesang know about this?
‘Is there a spy?’
Bu Eunseol’s expression hardened slightly. The six people, including Won Semun, were all people he firmly trusted. Yet, a spy among them?
‘No, it could be information obtained by chance to break our unity.’ Seeing Weiji Hyesang’s confident expression, Bu Eunseol’s mind began rotating at the speed of light.
The best way to break a solid organization is to infiltrate from within. Especially since once suspicion starts, it grows uncontrollably.
‘You were hasty. Weiji Hyesang.’ Bu Eunseol showed a cold smile.
Deliberately throwing information only he knew at Bu Eunseol. That was just a desperate act to give the feeling that he was overlooking everything.
‘Your behavior only gives me a big clue.’
Bu Eunseol was certain there was no spy among the lords. Yet, he knew this information?
Weiji Hyesang, he was either a figure of Eight Emperors and Three Stars… .
‘Or perhaps Hwa Wu Sword Sect is also controlled by descendants of Eight Emperors and Three Stars.’
Since the founder Jeok Hwa-un established Hwa Wu Sword Sect seven hundred years ago, the sect masters had come from the Jeok family for generations.
But from three hundred years ago, people from the Weiji family had continuously been sect masters, and their influence had grown rapidly. Given Weiji Hyesang’s intelligence, it led to the thought that perhaps among Eight Emperors and Three Stars, the descendants of the Sword Emperor had taken control of Hwa Wu Sword Sect.
“Weiji Hyesang.”
Bu Eunseol turned around and wore a faint smile.
“Even someone like you makes mistakes.”
Weiji Hyesang’s intelligence had always been superior to Bu Eunseol’s. He always uttered unknowns to confuse Bu Eunseol.
Most of them were things Bu Eunseol couldn’t verify the truth of.
But this time, Bu Eunseol had come prepared with various plans.
In the end, even in his own territory, Weiji Hyesang not only failed to seize control but, in his impatience, only blurted out unnecessary words.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“If you don’t know, that’s fine too.” Bu Eunseol turned around and raised the corner of his mouth.
He had visited Hwa Wu Sword Sect alone, obtained all possible information, and grasped the internal affairs of Hwa Wu Sword Sect. Moreover, he even got the intuition that Weiji Hyesang, or the Weiji family controlling Hwa Wu Sword Sect, might be descendants of Eight Emperors and Three Stars.
But Hwa Wu Sword Sect had obtained nothing from Bu Eunseol.
“Well then.” Bu Eunseol turned away with an expression of no regret and left Hwa Wu Sword Sect.
“I admit I took a hit this time.”
Weiji Hyesang, with a dejected expression, muttered while watching Bu Eunseol’s back disappearing in the distance.
“The card you played was something I couldn’t predict at all.” Weiji Hyesang, took a deep breath, his eyes sparkled again with profound light.
“But victory is yours only this time… Soon, you’ll become my toy.”
In Weiji Hyesang’s eyes, wearing a bright smile, an unbreakable sticky energy and… bizarre heat were emanating.
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