In contrast, Sa Cheongha, having lost most of her essence to the original energy, staggered back.
“Ugh…”
The Crystal Divine Energy was originally a force that even disciples who had mastered the martial arts of the Divine Water Palace could not easily absorb.
Moreover, even if poured out, it had to circulate infinitely once more and be absorbed back into her body.
Yet why had most of her Crystal Divine Energy been injected into Bu Eunseol’s body?
“What is the meaning of this?” Sa Cheongha glared at Bu Eunseol with a face that seemed to have aged ten years. “Could it be that you’ve mastered the Soul-Absorbing Lesser Technique, which devours the essence of others?”
“Vice Palace Master.”
Bu Eunseol sighed deeply and extended his hand.
“Do you think I’ve truly cultivated some wicked art?”
“What did you say?”
“The Crystal Divine Energy that you, Vice Palace Master, injected to kill this Martial Soul Command Lord merely fused with my Extreme Yin Energy. Here, see for yourself.”
Bu Eunseol unfolded the Heavenly Glacial Secret.
Then, along with a blue aura, countless streams of water extended like mist.
It was the form emitted by combining the Heavenly Glacial Secret with the Crystal Divine Energy.
“Your ice arts and this Vice Palace Master’s Crystal Divine Energy have merged?”
“Indeed. If you wish, you may check my pulse.” Bu Eunseol extended his wrist.
For a martial artist to casually offer their pulse gate was akin to baring their throat.
But, no matter what, Bu Eunseol needed the Divine Water Palace’s permission to enter the Pool of Demon Blades.
Thus, he willingly offered his pulse to clear his grievance.
Grab.
Sa Cheongha hesitated for a moment before seizing Bu Eunseol’s pulse gate. She could then feel the immense power circulating within his body.
‘This can’t be.’
Sa Cheongha was a long-time practitioner in the martial world. Yet to store such tremendous energies all at once within the body?
Was this not something unimaginable?
‘I can’t let it end like this. Not like this.’
Sa Cheongha’s eyes turned venomous.
Bu Eunseol had absorbed more than half of her Crystal Divine Energy.
If she couldn’t retrieve it?
She resolved to kill him and reclaim what was hers.
“Did you think you could steal the Crystal Divine Energy and walk away unscathed?”
Sa Cheongha gripped Bu Eunseol’s pulse gate and began infusing sharp energy. Once the pulse gate was suppressed, even the greatest master couldn’t wield their power.
She intended to cripple Bu Eunseol’s cultivation through this opportunity.
Hummm!
Sa Cheongha poured sharp true energy through Bu Eunseol’s meridians.
Yet Bu Eunseol’s expression remained calm.
Not only could he handle Yin-Yang Energy, but his cultivation level exceeded five hundred years.
Even if she slashed his meridians with razor-sharp energy, to Bu Eunseol it was merely tickling with a leaf.
“I never imagined the renowned Divine Water Palace would stoop to such a level.” Bu Eunseol sighed deeply. “If their woman is this vicious, it would be better for the Divine Water Palace’s honor if she died.”
Bu Eunseol immediately raised the Heavenly Glacial Secret.
Crack.
When his five-hundred-year inner force converted to Extreme Yin Energy, it became an unstoppable fury of nature.
Sa Cheongha’s skin gradually hardened, and the moisture within her body began to freeze.
“Aaaagh!” She let out a wretched scream.
The true energies circulating in her body via the Heavenly Glacial Secret felt like sharp needles tearing through her meridians.
“Aaaaaagh!”
As her desperate cries echoed through the Divine Water Palace,
“Show mercy with your hand.”
A low, gentle voice resounded from all directions, and suddenly clear rain fell upon the Divine Crystal.
Shaaaa.
At the same time, a transparent, long hand formed from rainwater clung to Sa Cheongha’s back.
Wooong.
The transparent hand blocked the Heavenly Glacial Secret pouring into Sa Cheongha and expelled the Extreme Yin Energy from her body.
“Oh my, the supreme art of the Glacial Emperor has reappeared in the martial world…”
Suddenly, a faint shadow formed in front of Bu Eunseol.
Though her face was veiled, eyes as clear and transparent as the sea were visible.
It was none other than the Palace Master of the Divine Water Palace, Neung Gyeong, who had secluded herself and no longer showed her face.
‘If the Palace Master is here, there’s no need to kill her.’
Shuuuk.
As Bu Eunseol immediately withdrew his inner force, the Palace Master also withdrew the Crystal Divine Energy.
Sa Cheongha had survived thanks to Palace Master Neung Gyeong’s aid but was too shaken to move.
“Vice Palace Master. You have not only tarnished this palace’s honor but also launched a despicable ambush worthy of vile demons.”
The Palace Master spoke to her in a solemn voice.
“Relinquish your position as Vice Palace Master and face the wall in seclusion for seven years.”
Sa Cheongha couldn’t even dare to respond, bowed her head, and staggered away.
To outsiders, seven years of wall-facing punishment might seem harsh, but in truth, Neung Gyeong had shown considerable mercy.
Sa Cheongha had lost half her Crystal Divine Energy to Bu Eunseol.
Without seven full years of re-cultivation, she would never recover her martial arts.
Neung Gyeong had granted her a chance to recover undisturbed.
‘Wise.’ Bu Eunseol nodded inwardly.
Sa Cheongha had twice used vicious, petty methods, sullying the Divine Water Palace’s honor.
Neung Gyeong punished her to preserve the palace’s reputation while giving her time to heal.
“This Palace Master apologizes to you. I am truly ashamed.”
Sa Cheongha’s sins were so grave that even kneeling in apology wouldn’t suffice. Yet Bu Eunseol clasped his hands with an unperturbed expression.
“The Vice Palace Master misused her energy and lost most of it. In such a dire situation, how could she remain sane?”
His demeanor was not that of a cold-hearted demonic leader but of a young grandmaster from the righteous sects.
Neung Gyeong smiled faintly and nodded.
“With the Martial Soul Command Lord’s vast magnanimity and compassion, it is a blessing for the martial world.”
Neung Gyeong, who had held the Palace Master position for thirty years, was well over seventy. Yet her eyes and voice seemed far younger and more youthful than Sa Cheongha’s. Born with a longevity physique that defied aging, she had mastered the Divine Water Palace’s arts to their pinnacle.
“However, you must explain absorbing the Crystal Divine Energy into your body.”
Stealing another’s true energy or essence was strictly forbidden in both righteous and demonic worlds.
If Bu Eunseol had cultivated such a wicked art, Neung Gyeong would have no choice but to act.
“I didn’t absorb the energy; the Crystal Divine Energy healed my body.”
“What do you mean?”
“Various energies are mixed within my body. The Crystal Divine Energy merely embraced one of them.” Bu Eunseol extended his arm again. “Explaining a hundred times is less effective than checking my pulse once.”
“You casually offer your life-or-death pulse gate to others.”
Neung Gyeong’s eyes curved like crescent moons behind the veil.
She seemed to be holding back laughter.
Bu Eunseol scratched his head with an embarrassed expression.
“I can offer it because I’m confident.”
“Very well.”
Splash!
As Neung Gyeong extended her pale hand, the water flowing in the Divine Crystal rose into the air.
She formed a transparent hand from the water and immediately grasped Bu Eunseol’s pulse gate.
“Is there a need to bother using energy to check the pulse?”
“Men and women must maintain propriety; how could I grab a man’s hand?”
‘What an eccentric.’
There was at least a forty-year age gap between Bu Eunseol and Neung Gyeong.
Yet she still acted like a young girl.
“This is…”
At that moment, Neung Gyeong, sensing the energies flowing in Bu Eunseol’s body, widened her eyes.
“It was you.”
Then, in an icy voice, she said, “You were the one with Dana at Gugok Mountain.”
Though known to have retired from palace affairs, Neung Gyeong was actually diligently raising the next successor.
She had heard that her most promising candidate, Gongsun Dana, had gone to Gugok Mountain on her own, fallen into great danger, and barely returned. Upon detailed inquiry, she found out that Gugok Mountain had facilities for creating puppets and traps to dispose of outsiders.
Gongsun Dana had survived thanks to a mysterious expert heading there by chance. Neung Gyeong asked about the expert’s identity multiple times, but Gongsun Dana only repeated that she didn’t know.
Yet Neung Gyeong could tell.
From Gongsun Dana’s bright, cheerful eyes, the expert was an extremely young man.
Otherwise, Gongsun Dana, who always maintained a solemn demeanor, wouldn’t show such a light expression.
—Something else has filled your heart.
Caught by Neung Gyeong’s words, Gongsun Dana smiled innocently.
—Yes. I met someone like me. The first person uninterested in others’ beauty or ugliness. Ah, of course, we weren’t interested in each other’s faces either. And also…
As Gongsun Dana spoke excitedly, Neung Gyeong sighed.
Such curiosity and familiarity could eventually cross into affection.
Because Neung Gyeong herself had been the same in the past.
—Since your heart is disturbed, I order you to stay in the Pure Heart Cave for one year.
Such punishment was closer to caring concern that Gongsun Dana’s profound arts might falter.
The Pure Heart Cave was where one could cultivate Crystal Divine Energy—a place any Divine Water Palace disciple dreamed of visiting.
Understanding Neung Gyeong’s intent, Gongsun Dana gladly obeyed.
Who would have thought the expert from Gugok Mountain was Majeon’s successor, the Martial Soul Command Lord?
“How did you know?”
“The energy within your body.” Neung Gyeong said calmly. “Embracing the Crystal Divine Energy to expel Extreme Yin Energy… wasn’t that the Taoist secret Dana passed on?”
Bu Eunseol, surprised that Neung Gyeong had seen through it, bowed his head.
“Correct. We met by chance at Gugok Mountain and helped each other.”
Bu Eunseol’s expression was full of wonder, his eyes filled with pure innocence.
Like Gongsun Dana, it showed only pure curiosity and goodwill—no trace of romantic feelings between man and woman.
‘A relief.’
Neung Gyeong sighed inwardly in relief and changed the subject.
“Dana once told me she met an expert at Gugok Mountain.”
“It was nothing. We simply aided each other.” Bu Eunseol spoke in a low voice, as if recalling something. “But please don’t blame her.”
“Blame?”
“At the time, I was trying to block a trap underground at Gugok Mountain and lost control of my internal energies. She had no choice but to save me.”
Stealing or learning another sect’s martial arts or absorbing its energy was unforgivable. Bu Eunseol worried Gongsun Dana might be punished for infusing Crystal Divine Energy.
“Don’t worry. The Taoist secret Dana gave you isn’t this palace’s art; it’s something she obtained by chance.”
Hearing this, Bu Eunseol felt slightly embarrassed.
‘She didn’t mention infusing the Crystal Divine Energy.’
He had referred to Gongsun Dana infusing Crystal Divine Energy into him.
But seeing Neung Gyeong think he worried only about receiving a Taoist secret…
Clearly, Gongsun Dana hadn’t mentioned the infusion.
“I see. That’s a relief.”
In truth, Bu Eunseol could accept the Crystal Divine Energy not just because of the Quanzhen Sect’s Taoist secret.
It was because Gongsun Dana had infused Crystal Divine Energy into him.
But Neung Gyeong remained utterly unaware of this fact.
She liked Bu Eunseol’s delicate concern for Gongsun Dana. Moreover, since he had saved her most cherished disciple, Neung Gyeong felt she owed him a debt.
“Hmm.” Neung Gyeong sighed. “The debts and favors of the martial world are unpredictable.”
“What do you mean?”
“I avoided them by secluding myself and focusing only on training successors… yet now my cherished disciple has thrown me a bundle of favors and debts.”
Hearing “debts and favors,” Bu Eunseol’s eyes sparkled.
“Come to think of it, there’s something I’d like to ask the Palace Master.”
From Gongsun Dana, Bu Eunseol had learned that Palace Master Neung Gyeong knew much about the Seven-Fingered Demon Blade, Bu Zhanyang.
Being a contemporary expert of similar age… she would know a great deal about him.
“Speak.”
“I heard you know about the Seven-Fingered Demon Blade.”
In that instant, Neung Gyeong’s eyes deepened.
Unable to meet Bu Eunseol’s gaze, she turned to look at the distant sky.
Lifting her head high with a subdued expression, she seemed to harbor an unspeakable story in her heart.
‘She doesn’t want to get entangled in martial world affairs.’
Bu Eunseol understood her inner thoughts.
‘Then there’s no need to dig it up.’
Wanting to find his grandfather’s traces didn’t give him the right to unearth a past someone wished to forget.
“I’m sorry.” Bu Eunseol quickly clasped his hands. “I spoke out of turn and disturbed the Palace Master’s peace. Please forget my earlier question.”
“Hehe, you’re unlike Majeon’s successor. Truly unlike a demonic heir.”
Feeling Bu Eunseol’s consideration, Neung Gyeong nodded faintly.
“It’s true he had a connection with this Palace Master. But…” She shook her head and said, “Now that I’m at twilight age… old memories don’t come easily.”
Bu Eunseol bowed again, clasping his hands.
“My apologies for the needless question.”
At his courteous apology, Neung Gyeong’s eyes softened.
That confident yet dignified aura.
The stubbornly closed lips. The elegant yet somehow lonely eyes.
Wasn’t it exactly like the man she had longed for even in dreams?
‘I still haven’t forgotten him.’
Neung Gyeong felt her profound arts, dormant for decades, shake uncontrollably.
Unknowingly, she asked Bu Eunseol,
“Do you have some special relation with the Seven-Fingered Demon Blade?”
Special relation.
At those words, Bu Eunseol’s eyes rippled like waves.
“Yes.”
“What relation?”
Bu Eunseol pondered briefly.
Tell the truth or evade?
Though a righteous figure, the Palace Master was wise and calm. She didn’t seem likely to harm him.
“That man…” Having made up his mind, Bu Eunseol said calmly, “Is my grandfather.”
“What?”
Neung Gyeong swayed greatly, as if struck by shock.
“You’re Bu Zhanyang’s grandson?”
“Yes.”
Neung Gyeong stared at Bu Eunseol with a dazed expression.
No wonder he resembled him. That lonely aura was stamped exactly alike.
Clench.
She gripped her hands tightly.
Otherwise, tears would flow from her eyes.
“I see. He had a grandson.”
Neung Gyeong forced a smile and nodded.
“I wonder why this Palace Master never heard such rumors.” Taking a deep breath, she said, “Anyway, go back now. This Palace Master is busy…”
“I have a request for the Palace Master.”
“I almost forgot.”
Neung Gyeong waved her hand as if flustered and nodded.
“You asked to open the Pool of Demon Blades.”
“Yes.”
“Enter. But.” She turned her head and said calmly, “Once everything is finished, leave immediately. That is this Palace Master’s condition.”
“Understood. I will do so.”
Though veiled, Neung Gyeong’s beauty was comparable to Gongsun Dana’s.
Her personality and demeanor were also kind and gentle.
‘She would have suited Grandfather well.’
Bu Eunseol sensed it intuitively.
Neung Gyeong had shared various stories with his grandfather and still missed him. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have shown such wistful eyes at the mention of the Seven-Fingered Demon Blade.
‘Grandfather.’
Thinking of him, longing suddenly welled up in Bu Eunseol’s chest.
But he couldn’t simply indulge in nostalgia. He had to quickly find the culprit, shatter the Three Realms… and take revenge.
“Thank you for the Palace Master’s kindness.” Having organized his thoughts, Bu Eunseol clasped his hands.
“Then, I will visit the Divine Water Palace again with Brother Dae Gon.”
“Wait.”
At that moment, Neung Gyeong turned and said, “Follow this Palace Master for a moment.”
She led Bu Eunseol into a pavilion deep within the Divine Water Palace.
It was a small room filled with a faint incense scent. Likely a meditation chamber she used to calm or compose her mind.
“He…” Staring at Bu Eunseol, Neung Gyeong moved her lips behind the veil.
If she spoke the words in her heart now, the profound arts built over decades would collapse.
The position of Divine Water Palace Master. No, she would throw away everything and go searching for him.
Knowing this, she couldn’t voice it.
“Grandfather…”
Then Bu Eunseol opened his mouth in a clear, deep voice.
“Didn’t marry. I was an orphan when he took me as his grandson.”
As if reading Neung Gyeong’s heart.
“And together with me, he performed rites for the deceased… and lived happily.”
It was brief news, making the long years feel fleeting. Yet Neung Gyeong could guess that Bu Zhanyang had lived happily with his grandson.
And that he was no longer of this world.
Drip.
Finally, clear teardrops fell from her large eyes.
Slide.
As if unable to bear the weight of her pain, Neung Gyeong’s blue veil slipped to the ground.
An indescribably exquisite beauty was revealed.
Astonishingly, the Divine Water Palace Master maintained the youthful appearance of a twenty-year-old maiden even at her age.
‘This is punishment for lacking courage.’
Both in the past and now.
Neung Gyeong had never had the courage to cast off the shackles and bonds surrounding her.
“The gate of affection is so hard to cross.”
Neung Gyeong shed pearl-like tears. But a bright smile graced her lips. Only now did she realize that what had pained her heart for decades was not Bu Zhanyang’s memory, but her own fear of choice.
“You resemble him exactly.”
At Neung Gyeong’s words, Bu Eunseol straightened his shoulders and said proudly,
“I’m his grandson, after all.”
Neung Gyeong smiled.
As if gazing fondly at her own grandson.
“But don’t follow your grandfather’s life.”
Neung Gyeong sensed it. Bu Eunseol was living a life similar to Bu Zhanyang’s.
“You must live a different life from him.”
It was an earnest plea to meet a loved one and build a happy family. Bu Eunseol didn’t understand the meaning but nodded at the desperate emotion in her eyes.
“Understood.” Hearing the reply, she showed a dry smile and turned away.
Then slowly walked out of the meditation chamber.
Bu Eunseol knew.
Neung Gyeong would enter the depths of the Divine Water Palace and never show herself to the world again.
“Thank you for telling me his news.”
Briefly turning back, Neung Gyeong gave Bu Eunseol the most beautiful smile.
It was her final smile bidding farewell to the first love and beloved she had cherished in her heart for so long.
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