“Oh.”
Spotting Bu Eunseol, Shim Wol and Jin Seol let out soft exclamations.
“My Lord.” As the two stood and clasped their hands, Bu Eunseol returned the gesture.
“What a coincidence.”
“Indeed,” Jin Seol said, clasping her hands calmly. “We were just about to leave. I hope you have a good time.”
But contrary to her words, steaming dishes, freshly served, sat on their table. It seemed Jin Seol was uncomfortable with Bu Eunseol’s presence and intended to move elsewhere.
A flash of anger sparked in Shim Wol’s eyes.
‘Afraid her heart will waver, she’s even avoiding him now?’ To decide to leave without consulting him—wasn’t that disregarding him entirely?
“There’s no need for that. We’ll go elsewhere,” Bu Eunseol said.
Won Semun, standing behind, looked disappointed. “My Lord, we came all this way… ugh!”
Jo Namcheon and Wi Cheongyeong quickly approached, covered Won Semun’s mouth, and dragged him out.
“Have a good time,” Bu Eunseol said, clasping his hands.
Shim Wol smiled. “Lord, since it’s rare to meet like this, why not join us for a drink?” He stepped closer, offering a friendly smile. “We’re practically family, aren’t we?”
Turning to Jin Seol, he added, “Once we’re married, you’ll have to step back from sect affairs, so shouldn’t you spend time with others while you can?”
Jin Seol’s brows shot up sharply.
She had no intention of leaving Majeon after marrying Shim Wol. To say such a thing to Bu Eunseol without discussing it with her?
‘He’s reprimanding me for deciding to leave on my own.’ Realizing why Shim Wol was upset, Jin Seol closed her mouth.
“Just one drink, Lord,” Shim Wol urged again.
Bu Eunseol turned to Yoo Unryong. “Go to another tavern first. I’ll join you soon.”
“Alright,” Yoo Unryong nodded, leading the other captains out of the Joyful Pavilion.
“Well, then.” As Bu Eunseol sat and picked up a cup, Shim Wol poured wine with both hands.
“Sitting here like this reminds me of when you first joined the sect,” Shim Wol said, his eyes crinkling as the clear wine filled the cup. “Though your status has risen, you haven’t forgotten those days, have you?”
“Of course not,” Bu Eunseol replied.
“You seem to have had too much to drink,” Jin Seol said, giving Shim Wol a pointed look as his tone carried a hint of arrogance.
But he ignored her and continued, “Did you know? When the Lord was a Ten Demon Warrior, I guided him into the sect.”
Jin Seol forced a smile and nodded. “I know.”
‘He’s always so gentle and kind, but now he’s losing control of his emotions.’ She struggled to suppress her bitter feelings. ‘Does he not trust me? Why is he antagonizing the Martial Soul Command Lord?’
Though Jin Seol had once had feelings for Bu Eunseol, that was in the past.
When she faced him outside the Solitary Light Pavilion, she had shaken off those emotions and moved on.
Yet Shim Wol, consumed by jealousy, was acting unnecessarily.
“That’s right,” Bu Eunseol said, raising his cup to Shim Wol. “Back then, I was just a country bumpkin who knew nothing about the sect. If you hadn’t helped, I’d have faced quite a bit of trouble.”
Gulp.
Bu Eunseol and Shim Wol locked eyes, drinking with both hands.
For the sect’s successor, it was an unusually courteous gesture. He was trying to boost Shim Wol’s reputation in front of Jin Seol.
“I’ll take my leave now,” Bu Eunseol said, standing.
Jin Seol stood and bowed as well.
But Shim Wol spoke out of turn again. “Lord, why not stay a bit longer?” Looking at Jin Seol with a smile, he added, “We won’t see each other often after the marriage.”
His actions had far crossed the line.
A flash sparked in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
Normally, he wouldn’t tolerate such rudeness.
But he held his tongue because Jin Seol was there.
Every man wants to appear strong in front of the woman he loves.
Bu Eunseol didn’t want to diminish Shim Wol’s dignity, even slightly.
“There’ll be another chance,” he said calmly, turning to leave. “Well, then.”
As Bu Eunseol departed, silence fell over the room. Jin Seol lowered her head in embarrassment, while Shim Wol snapped back to his senses.
‘I don’t know why I acted like that. Could it be… because of that inner core?’ Biting his lip, he recalled the face of the person he met months ago, who had given him the inner core that changed his life.
It was a high-ranking member of the sect, someone unthinkable to be colluding with external forces. And in an unexpected place, they made an unexpected proposal.
“This inner core takes different times to meld depending on one’s talent. With yours, you’ll soon gain unimaginable power.”
Staring at the inner core, Shim Wol couldn’t hide his astonishment.
For two reasons.
First, that a trusted sect leader was collaborating with external forces.
Second, he realized the truth that ingesting this red inner core could drastically enhance one’s power.
His martial prowess had increased several times over.
‘Just by consuming it, my power grows, and fully melding it grants incredible abilities?’
Shim Wol couldn’t believe such a dreamlike tale.
Since inner cores only brought benefits and no harm, he accepted it without hesitation. Upon consuming it, he immediately felt his power surge. Moreover, as he practiced, the core’s energy merged with his innate true energy.
‘At this rate, my martial prowess will grow infinitely.’
Shim Wol was ecstatic.
To think such a miraculous item existed?
With it, he could break through the seemingly impenetrable Peak Realm in one go.
“But be cautious, as this inner core may have side effects.”
Soon, Shim Wol learned what those side effects were.
His once-calm mind was suddenly filled with uncontrollable anger and killing intent.
‘So that’s it.’
Shim Wol had always been clear-minded and patient.
But as the core’s power merged with his true energy, his strength grew. And with that growth came an equal surge in killing intent.
As it overflowed uncontrollably, maintaining a normal life became nearly impossible.
‘I have no choice.’ Unable to control the surging power and killing intent, Shim Wol made a decision. ‘I’ll go out and kill some martial artists.’
Majeon was more than it appeared.
If he couldn’t control his killing intent, the sect’s masters would notice.
If investigated, his ingestion of the artificial inner core would be exposed, and he’d be imprisoned with the external collaborator.
‘My power has grown, so it’ll be fine.’
A sharp sword begs to be swung; a new technique yearns to be used. To quell his overwhelming power and killing intent, Shim Wol created another identity.
The Shadowless Killer.
The murderer who had terrorized the Huguang region was none other than Shim Wol, who had melded the inner core.
“You,” Jin Seol said. “You weren’t yourself today.”
Shim Wol snapped out of his deep thoughts.
“Was I?” he said, suppressing his killing intent and offering a gentle smile. “I’m sorry. I must’ve had too much to drink.”
Jin Seol’s expression was cold yet pained.
‘That look.’ Shim Wol clenched his fists again.
Her eyes were always like a blizzard, cold and unyielding. But that composure broke when she faced Bu Eunseol.
‘I’ll kill him.’ His eyes turned red with rage, his blood rushing and his body tensing.
Jin Seol stood, saying, “I’m tired. I’ll head back first.”
“I’ll escort you,” Shim Wol offered.
“No need. There’s a carriage waiting outside.”
“Alright.” As she turned to leave, Shim Wol’s eyes overflowed with bloodthirsty intent.
He wanted to strike Jin Seol and chase down that insufferable Bu Eunseol, tearing him apart. But he had to restrain himself. Revealing his true nature now would ruin everything.
Drip, drip.
Blood trickled from Shim Wol’s clenched fists, his nails digging into his palms.
‘This won’t do.’
Licking the blood from his hand, a cruel glint shone in his eyes.
To cool his burning blood, he would become the Shadowless Killer again and slaughter more people.
***
Manbak Hall was the hub for information entering Majeon, offering a clear view of the martial world’s state.
As a disciple trusted by the Manbak Hall leader, Shim Wol had access to much of it. Even while wreaking havoc as the Shadowless Killer in Huguang, he could use Manbak Hall’s information to conceal his tracks and identity.
Whoosh.
Leaving the sect, he used qinggong to swiftly reach Hyungdo from Changsha.
According to the sect’s intelligence, no information networks or skilled martial artists operated near Hyungdo.
It was the perfect place for unrestrained slaughter.
‘Killing martial artists is getting boring.’
At first, he enjoyed killing defiant martial artists.
But after mass slaughter, he found more pleasure in killing defenseless civilians.
Martial artists were like moving targets; civilians were stationary ones.
He found it more satisfying to gather and destroy stationary targets all at once.
‘Why not wipe out an entire village?’
Killing civilians haphazardly left evidence. But annihilating a whole village erased traces and confused pursuers.
‘One person wiping out a village isn’t common.’
Feeling the burning killing intent, Shim Wol closed his eyes. He, who had always acted with cunning and secrecy, had become a blood-soaked demonic master.
‘But I must do it. To further enhance my martial prowess.’
The more he used his power, the more the dormant inner core melded.
The more he killed, the stronger he became.
Thud.
Arriving at the foot of a mountain overlooking a village, Shim Wol’s face lit up with ecstasy.
‘I’ll melt it completely.’
Leaping into the air, a murderous aura surged from him, as if tearing the sky apart.
***
Chirp, chirp.
The dark sky gradually brightened.
Returning from the inn the previous night, Bu Eunseol had spent the entire day in his office, deep in thought.
‘The feeling is certain.’
He hadn’t left immediately the previous night not only to save Shim Wol’s face but also to observe him closely.
Shim Wol had made mistakes and acted rudely, unlike his usual self.
Bu Eunseol was certain it was due to the ferocious energy of the artificial inner core.
The Shim Wol he knew wasn’t so lacking in self-control.
‘That means…’ As Bu Eunseol sank into deep thought, loud shouts echoed from outside.
“Hah! Hyah!” From the sound alone, he knew Won Semun and his team were sparring.
‘He must be frustrated.’
Won Semun had once been thoroughly defeated by So Okrim.
Since then, he had been training diligently.
He couldn’t close the vast gap overnight, but he was steadily narrowing it through daily effort.
‘Looking back, it was good motivation.’ Smiling, Bu Eunseol stepped outside.
The sparring had ended, and Won Semun and his team were sprawled on the training ground, panting. Bu Eunseol watched from a distance, careful not to disturb their rest.
“That So Okrim did one good thing,” Yoo Unryong said, approaching Bu Eunseol. “He got the drunken Won Semun back to diligence.”
The Death Shadow Corps had been engaged in large-scale battles, but recently, such opportunities were rare.
As a result, Won Semun and his team had slacked in their training.
‘Is there anyone as strong as the Lord?’
But So Okrim’s appearance shocked Won Semun, spurring him to train diligently again. A world where only the strong survive, that was the martial world.
“She’ll be back soon,” Bu Eunseol said, picturing So Okrim’s sharp grin.
Was it because he hadn’t seen her in so long?
He suddenly missed her round cheeks and brash demeanor.
“Stronger than before.”
“Hm. That’s scary in its own way,” Yoo Unryong said.
“Scary? What’s going on?”
“You haven’t heard yet,” Yoo Unryong said with a sigh. “Last night, the Shadowless Killer struck again. This time, he wiped out an entire village.”
“A village?”
“Yes. A mass slaughter of civilians. Even the authorities are involved, but they still can’t find any traces.”
A strange thought struck Bu Eunseol.
The Shadowless Killer was being watched by the Martial Alliance and various intelligence networks. Yet he boldly massacred civilians, evading their pursuit.
‘That kind of intelligence…’
Lost in thought, Bu Eunseol said to Yoo Unryong, “Yoo Unryong.”
“Hm?”
“Investigate everything about Manbak Hall and the actions of its disciples. Every single one.”
“Manbak Hall?”
“Yes. Leave no one out.”
Yoo Unryong blinked but, seeing Bu Eunseol’s serious expression, nodded. “Understood.”
That evening, Yoo Unryong visited Bu Eunseol’s office to report his findings.
“Manbak Hall Leader Baek Jeoncheon is away on external affairs. His subordinates are busy with sect management,” Yoo Unryong said calmly. “When I visited Manbak Hall, that guy welcomed me. We talked for quite a while.”
“Shim Wol, you mean?”
“Yes. He’s highly trusted by the leader, and with the Elder Sect Leader’s influence, he practically holds all the authority of the deputy leader in the leader’s absence.”
“Is that so?”
It was surprising.
Shim Wol, who had always acted as a mere disciple, was effectively Manbak Hall’s second-in-command.
“Are you trying to dig into Shim Wol?” Yoo Unryong said with a laugh. “Can’t stand seeing him and Jin Seol together?”
It was a jest only a close friend could make.
But Bu Eunseol nodded with a grave expression. “Yes.”
“What?”
“He doesn’t seem suited for Jin Seol.”
Yoo Unryong’s eyes widened.
Having served Bu Eunseol for so long, he could read his intentions from a glance.
‘He’s not joking.’ Yoo Unryong swallowed hard.
A trace of killing intent flickered in Bu Eunseol’s eyes. Only then did Yoo Unryong reach an unbelievable conclusion.
“No way,” he said, his face deadly serious.
“Shim Wol… is he the Shadowless Killer?”
“Probably.”
“No way,” Yoo Unryong shook his head.
The recent mad killer was Shim Wol, a talented Manbak Hall disciple and one of the Three Demons’ students?
Though his official status was just a disciple, he was practically a key figure in the sect. To think he’d hide his identity and slaughter martial artists and civilians without reason?
“If that got out, he’d lose everything. That’s too risky a gamble.”
“He likely consumed an artificial inner core or Demon Seed,” Bu Eunseol said.
Yoo Unryong’s eyes widened.
He’d only heard of artificial inner cores or Demon Seeds, never seen them. But according to Bu Eunseol, they not only amplified power limitlessly but also altered the mind.
Still, it was hard to comprehend.
‘As Jeok Bung’s disciple, what could he lack…’ After deep thought, Yoo Unryong shook his head.
‘No, he must feel lacking.’
Yoo Unryong began to understand Shim Wol’s perspective.
In the past, Shim Wol likely had ambitions to reach the pinnacle of the demonic path. But facing an insurmountable rival like Bu Eunseol, he must have felt endless despair and anguish.
Yoo Unryong had felt the same once.
Now, content to stand by Bu Eunseol’s side rather than aim for the top, he was free of that pain. But Shim Wol was likely still suffering, as Yoo Unryong once had.
“Then I’ll track his movements during the Shadowless Killer’s appearances,” Yoo Unryong said.
“The sect’s intelligence network won’t work. As a Manbak Hall disciple, he’d anticipate and block our information flow,” Bu Eunseol said solemnly.
“Work with Mu Heon, the Death Spirit Corps’s leader. Having inherited everything from the Nine Deaths Squad Leader, he’ll surely uncover Shim Wol’s tracks.”
“Understood.”
Yoo Unryong took a deep breath.
The new mission for the secret unit Bu Eunseol had founded had been issued.
Through those exceptional operatives, they would uncover Shim Wol’s hidden actions.
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