“Elder Inguk…”
Bu Eunseol tightly grasped the hands of Inguk, who had passed away.
Though their time together was brief, Bu Eunseol had felt a faint sense of affection for Inguk’s warmth during his time with the Beggars’ Sect.
“May you rest in eternal peace.” Bu Eunseol carefully lifted Inguk’s body.
Though a disciple of the Beggars’ Sect, Inguk was an upright man who knew how to help others. Now, having shed his mortal form and transcended the mundane world, he deserved to rest in peace.
“He was someone who strove to uphold the duty of a beggar, so an elaborate tomb would likely feel burdensome to him.”
After respectfully burying Inguk, Bu Eunseol turned his attention to the pile of vagrants’ bodies in the clearing. The corpses, sprinkled with Fire Essence Stones, had been burned, leaving only ashes barely retaining their form.
Suddenly, a strange glint flickered among the charred remains and flesh.
‘What’s that?’
Whoosh!
As Bu Eunseol activated his Grasping Technique, a half-burned object floated before his eyes. The round, bead-like object not only emitted a soft glow but shimmered with an orange hue, as if containing a flame within.
It resembled a small candle burning inside a glass orb.
“An artificial inner core?”
A flash of light burst from Bu Eunseol’s eyes. The bead found among the vagrants’ bodies was none other than an artificial inner core, a creation of the Three Realms.
“No, it’s entirely different.”
The inner cores discovered so far had been blood-red, gleaming with a crimson sheen. But the artificial inner core from the vagrants’ remains was tinged with an orange hue, as if infused with flames.
“This was their goal.” An indescribable heat emanated from the core. “They were refining the inner cores.”
Though he didn’t know the method, this newly discovered artificial inner core was unlike the others. It possessed the properties of Extreme Yang, much like the inner core of a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp.
‘So that’s why they stole the Fire Essence Stones.’
The culprit likely used the Fire Essence Stones and some unknown method to burn human bodies, creating inner cores imbued with Extreme Yang energy.
‘There’s something more to this.’
Burning vagrants injected with demonic essence wouldn’t naturally produce a fire-attributed inner core.
There had to be a secret technique involved.
‘It’s not the Three Realms.’
The Three Realms always prioritized secrecy.
If they were conducting experiments, they wouldn’t need to rob the Martial Alliance’s armories, nor would they make the mistake of drawing public attention.
“Whatever their purpose…”
Originally, Bu Eunseol had planned to complete the investigation of the Fire Essence Stone thefts and return to the Martial Alliance.
But now, his thoughts had changed.
“I’ll catch them.”
A bloodthirsty glint burned in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
If he stopped here, more vagrants could be killed at any moment.
That was not the outcome Inguk, who risked his life to protect the vagrants, would have wanted.
Bu Eunseol resolved to hunt down the murderer of the vagrants to the end.
***
The intelligence organizations of the righteous and demonic paths were similar in structure but differed in their approach.
Demonic intelligence organizations collected all raw information, then filtered out unverified rumors or uncertain data within the organization to extract what was needed.
In contrast, righteous intelligence organizations typically had their agents refine information immediately before reporting it to higher-ups.
Thus, in terms of accuracy, righteous organizations were superior, but demonic organizations excelled in the breadth and speed of information gathering.
Bu Eunseol currently had access to both the demonic intelligence network and the Supreme Branch, an intelligence unit under the Martial Alliance.
Though the Supreme Branch could only access low-level information, by combining and analyzing data from both righteous and demonic sources, Bu Eunseol could find the information he needed faster than any other intelligence organization.
“Gwang Yangja…” Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed as he looked down at the report from the Death Death Shadow Corps.
The culprit who stole the Fire Essence Stones and burned the vagrants was none other than Gwang Yangja, an elder of the Yeolha Holy Palace.
‘Why would an elder of the Yeolha Holy Palace do such a thing?’
The Yeolha Holy Palace, located in the southern barbarian lands, was a faction that straddled the line between righteous and demonic, known for its powerful martial arts based on Extreme Yang energy. It was also called the Sun Palace.
And Gwang Yangja, an elder of this palace, was the mastermind behind the Fire Essence Stone thefts and the vagrant murders.
‘So, the Fire Ring Crystal was the key to creating fire-attributed inner cores.’
The Fire Ring Crystal, the Yeolha Holy Palace’s treasured artifact, was said to contain the purest fire energy in the world.
According to the Death Death Shadow Corps’ intelligence, Gwang Yangja had stolen the Fire Ring Crystal and was being pursued by the palace’s masters. Thus, the creation of fire-attributed inner cores imbued with Extreme Yang energy was likely closely tied to the theft of the Fire Ring Crystal.
‘That’s why neither righteous nor demonic factions could track him.’ An elder from a distant outer region faction had secretly infiltrated the Central Plains, causing chaos. No intelligence organization could have detected him.
Now, Bu Eunseol knew who the culprit was and what they wanted.
“This is the final chapter.”
Bu Eunseol aimed to complete the Martial Alliance’s mission while avenging the unjustly killed vagrants.
“You’ve been caught by the wrong person.”
Gwang Yangja, fleeing Wiyak Village, was using his qinggong to their fullest.
Upon seeing Bu Eunseol throw the dagger, he immediately realized his actions had been exposed and that the Martial Alliance had sent a pursuer.
But he was confident he wouldn’t be caught.
As an elder of a faction, he was well-versed in how alliances operated.
‘They wouldn’t deploy a large force for something like this.’
No matter how much the Martial Alliance championed justice, they wouldn’t mobilize significant forces over stolen Fire Essence Stones or the unjust deaths of vagrants.
Honor, reputation, and prestige—these were paramount to righteous factions.
If they admitted their armories were robbed or that vagrants were massacred, it would tarnish their reputation and invite criticism for mismanaging their branches.
‘In this case, it’s a long game.’ Without time to cover his tracks, Gwang Yangja headed straight for Uiryong Mountain.
Uiryong Mountain lay where Majeon’ and Martial Alliance’s branches faced each other.
It was a place neither the Alliance’s large forces nor the Yeolha Holy Palace’s pursuers could easily enter—a contested boundary where righteous and demonic forces clashed, perfect for hiding and enduring a prolonged standoff.
“As expected of an old fox, his schemes are deep.”
Upon receiving a report that Gwang Yangja had hidden in Uiryong Mountain, Bu Eunseol nodded.
Martial masters were different from ordinary people.
As swift as mountain beasts, with stamina and mental fortitude far beyond common folk, a master hiding in the mountains required a massive search effort to find. But deploying a large force to search a mountain at the boundary of righteous and demonic territories was nearly impossible.
Gwang Yangja had chosen the perfect place to evade the Martial Alliance’s relentless pursuit.
‘He’s betting the Alliance won’t risk clashing with Majeon to catch a thief who stole Fire Essence Stones.’ Bu Eunseol nodded. ‘The Yeolha Holy Palace’s forces can’t approach recklessly either, so it’s a double advantage.’
With a smile, he curled his lips.
“But you’ve thought too cleverly. Far too cleverly.”
Scribble, scribble.
Bu Eunseol took out a secret ink brush and wrote a letter in the code used by Majeon, then discreetly handed it to a member of the Death Death Shadow Corps to deliver to Yoo Unryong.
“It’s over now.”
Gazing at the distant sky, Bu Eunseol immediately employed his qinggong.
His destination was Majeon’s Taewon Branch, located at Uiryong Mountain.
***
The Taewon Branch was thrown into immediate chaos.
“Emergency training begins today!”
It was said that Majeon’s Hwa Jung-cheon, who had been secretly inspecting branches across the martial world, had made an unannounced visit.
Seeing the lax warriors of the Taewon Branch, he roared like thunder.
“The Taewon Branch is right next to the Martial Alliance’s branch, yet you’re basking in a peaceful atmosphere, completely letting go of all vigilance!”
The branch leader’s face turned pale.
Hwa Jung-cheon of the Shadow Pavilion was the closest confidant of Martial Soul Command Lord, the fearsome heir of Majeon. A single word from him could cost the branch leader his head.
“We’ll correct it immediately!” As the branch leader prostrated himself, trembling, Hwa Jung-cheon issued a stern command.
“Assemble at Uiryong Mountain and conduct training to demonstrate the might of our corps. Show the world that this region belongs to us. If you fail to display proper strength, your head will roll!” Clutching his trembling heart, the branch leader gathered his weapons.
He armed all the warriors of the Taewon Branch and marched to Uiryong Mountain.
It was as if they were about to conquer the entire Taewon region.
“What are they doing?” The Martial Alliance’s Taewon Branch, watching this, erupted in anger. “How dare they hold training in the Uiryong Mountain area, right in front of our branch?”
Both branches had tacitly agreed to treat Uiryong Mountain as a buffer zone, with neither side crossing into it. But now, Majeon’ branch was using “emergency training” as an excuse to advance to Uiryong Mountain, leaving the Alliance no choice but to respond.
“Let’s show them the might of the Alliance!”
In the end, the entire force of the Martial Alliance’s Taewon Branch mobilized, surrounding the opposite side of Uiryong Mountain from Majeon.
It was a resolute stance: if the Corps crossed even a step, war would break out immediately.
“Cross, and it’s war!”
As the Alliance and Corps forces faced off, Uiryong Mountain was enveloped in a murderous aura, surrounded by an impenetrable encirclement.
Gwang Yangja, hiding in the mountain, began to panic.
“What’s going on?!” He rubbed his eyes in disbelief as the righteous and demonic forces tightly surrounded Uiryong Mountain. “All this just for burning vagrants?”
Faced with an unexpected situation, Gwang Yangja was utterly flustered.
His sole reason for feeding demonic essence to vagrants and creating inner cores was simple: he knew neither righteous nor demonic factions would care much about vagrants, even if they died in droves.
But his calculations were completely off.
Not only the Martial Alliance but even Majeon had moved to encircle Uiryong Mountain.
“Even if a heinous criminal were involved, the alliances wouldn’t act to this extent.” As the standoff dragged on, Gwang Yangja made a decision.
If the search began while he was surrounded by both righteous and demonic masters, he’d be caught like a rat with nowhere to go. In the worst case, the Yeolha Holy Palace’s masters might seize this chance to come for him.
“No matter what, I must not be caught by the palace.”
He tightly gripped the Fire Ring Crystal in his hand.
With this and the demonic essence, he could create as many Extreme Yang inner cores as needed. And if he could make just a few more, he could create the Yeolha Thousand Sword Crimson Corps he’d dreamed of.
He couldn’t stop here.
“There’s still a way.” Fortunately, both forces had only surrounded the mountain and hadn’t yet begun a full-scale search.
If he moved to the flanks, where the encirclement was weaker, before the search started, he could escape.
Just as Gwang Yangja, having made his decision, began to move—
Halt.
A sharp realization flashed through his mind.
“It’s a trap.”
If they’d formed such an airtight encirclement, they wouldn’t need to delay—they could start searching the mountain immediately.
Yet they weren’t moving, maintaining the encirclement.
They were predicting he’d grow impatient, abandon his hiding spot, and try to break through the weaker parts of the encirclement, luring him into a trap.
“Heh, heh, heh. A young, hot-blooded fool would’ve fallen for it.” Gwang Yangja gave a cold smile. “They set a trap exploiting the anxiety of the pursued. There must be someone with remarkable cunning. But it won’t work.”
In his seventy years, he’d overcome countless crises and trials.
At his age, he wouldn’t make rash decisions that could ruin everything.
“Even if they search, I just need to escape somehow.”
His task was clear.
He needed to find a place in Uiryong Mountain where he could hide for an extended period.
“This will do.” After scouring the mountain, Gwang Yangja found an ideal spot.
It was a natural cave near a cliff, with a raging river flowing below.
“This place can sustain me for a long time… and in the worst case, I can jump into the river.”
Just as Gwang Yangja, having found the cave, sighed in relief and smiled—
“You came here, as expected.”
A man in white robes slowly emerged from the cave.
His frame was slender, his demeanor gentle, as if he couldn’t even catch a bug—a scholar-like figure.
It was Bu Eunseol, disguised as Seon Woojin.
“You!” Gwang Yangja immediately recognized him as the one who threw the dagger during his fight with the beggar in Wiyak Village and glared. “Did you set up this encirclement to lure me here?”
“How else could I find a rat hiding in the vast Uiryong Mountain?”
Realizing the truth, Gwang Yangja’s jaw dropped.
The tight encirclement formed by both righteous and demonic forces was a ploy to drive him to this cave. In the vast Uiryong Mountain, this was the only place where he could hide long-term and escape if needed.
“But you’re alone.” Confirming no allies were nearby, Gwang Yangja thrust out both palms.
“Get lost!”
No need for words.
He had to defeat this man quickly and escape elsewhere. Delay would trap him with no way out.
Whoosh!
A searing heat poured around Bu Eunseol along with white mist.
“This is the Extreme Yang martial art of the Yeolha Holy Palace.”
The palace’s techniques imbued every move with powerful Extreme Yang energy and heat. The overwhelming heat disrupted the senses, making it impossible to tell where the palm force was coming from.
“Interesting.” Bu Eunseol immediately extended his left hand, meeting Gwang Yangja’s palm force head-on.
Boom!
With an explosive sound, Gwang Yangja was pushed back three steps.
But Bu Eunseol stood firm, like a deity.
“A young man with impressive inner energy.” Though shocked by Bu Eunseol’s power, Gwang Yangja smirked wickedly. “But you made a mistake. The Yeolha Traceless Palm melts meridians regardless of inner energy…”
He stopped mid-sentence.
The man whose meridians and bodily fluids should have melted stood unscathed. Moreover, a needle-like pain stabbed through Gwang Yangja’s right hand, where Extreme Yang energy should have swirled.
“What’s this?” Looking at his palm, Gwang Yangja suddenly realized the mucus in his nose had frozen solid.
The grass at his feet, once vibrant, was now frosted white.
“You’re from the North Sea Ice Palace!”
Only then did Gwang Yangja realize Bu Eunseol had used powerful ice techniques to neutralize the Yeolha Traceless Palm. Not only that, but the immense Extreme Yin energy from their clash had frozen his body and surroundings.
“I’ll melt your ice techniques in an instant!” Enraged, Gwang Yangja surged his inner energy.
“Impressive Extreme Yang martial art.” Bu Eunseol narrowed his eyes.
Just by raising his energy, the air grew hot, and each breath felt like it could melt his lungs.
“Die!” As Gwang Yangja launched another palm strike, a blinding, sun-like light erupted from his palm.
He unleashed a ferocious Extreme Yang force, as if to turn the world into a fireball.
Whoosh.
Bu Eunseol calmly extended his left hand, and a white-blue light emerged, followed by a chilling cold.
Hiss!
As the Heavenly Glacial Secret Technique clashed with the Yeolha Traceless Palm, white steam spread in all directions. Gwang Yangja, a master of the Yeolha Traceless Palm for decades, surpassed Bu Eunseol in the subtlety and freedom of his palm techniques.
“Urgh.” Yet the result was Gwang Yangja’s defeat.
Frost covered his body, and with a pained groan, he staggered back five steps.
Though Bu Eunseol had only recently mastered ice techniques, his inner energy exceeded four hundred years. The vast gap in inner energy rendered the Yeolha Traceless Palm’s sophistication ineffective.
“Fine!” With a scream-like shout, Gwang Yangja pulled an orange inner core from his robes and swallowed it.
It was the Extreme Yang inner core he’d created using the Fire Ring Crystal and demonic essence.
Roar!
As he consumed the core, an immense heat poured from Gwang Yangja’s body.
Crack.
Extending both palms, a blinding sun-like orb formed, radiating tremendous pressure.
Zing.
The flame in his palm, neither gas nor solid, swirled in a unique state.
Hum.
Finally, it became a scorching sphere, morphing into a sword-like form.
It was the Yeolha Ionized Sword, one of the ultimate techniques of the Yeolha Holy Palace.
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