Hwaaaaaak!
In an instant, a majestic Buddhist radiance blazed before Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
The light completely drove away the surrounding darkness and, in the blink of an eye, illuminated the entire world.
At the same moment, a small shadow appeared before him.
It was a withered old monk, his body gaunt, his face covered in countless deep wrinkles that made his age impossible to guess.
The greatest elder of Shaolin, the living Buddha of the martial world: the Buddha Venerable, Great Master Hong Hyeon.
“Benefactor, are you all right?” The Buddha Venerable looked upon Bu Eunseol with a benevolent smile. Only then did Bu Eunseol come to his senses. He bowed deeply at the waist.
“This one from the martial world, Bu Eunseol, pays his respects.”
Regardless of orthodoxy or heresy, the Buddha Venerable was revered by every martial artist. Moreover, long ago at the Martial Alliance, had Bu Eunseol not received a small kindness from him?
“Young man, why show this poor monk such great courtesy?”
“Did you not just save my life?” Bu Eunseol lowered his head with utmost respect. “I am deeply grateful for the grace of saving my life.”
“Now that I look closely… you are…” The Buddha Venerable tilted his head, carefully examining Bu Eunseol’s attire and face.
“I am Bu Eunseol, disciple of Nangyang Pavilion.”
“Hohoho, I was wondering where this young man, so young and dragon-like, came from, and he turns out to be the successor of Majeon.”
“You honor me too much.” Bu Eunseol’s demeanor remained exceedingly humble.
Had the Buddha Venerable not appeared…
‘Even if I had not died by the Heavenly Deity’s hand, something terrible would have happened.’
In the moment his consciousness was fading, Bu Eunseol had felt an utterly ominous energy.
It was not mere death; it was a terrifying force that not even death could shake off.
Had the Buddha Venerable not intervened, he would have fallen into an abyss of ten-thousand kalpas from which there is no return.
“But how did you come to be here?”
When Bu Eunseol asked, the Buddha Venerable smiled gently.
“I noticed a group of pitch-black figures surrounding the entire area, so I came to see. It turns out they had mobilized an army just to kill one young man.”
Bu Eunseol glanced around and asked, “Did you not see the one who attacked me?”
“He blocked a single palm strike from this old monk in an instant, then vanished somewhere.”
“A single palm…” Bu Eunseol muttered under his breath.
He himself had been unable to block even one move and had been swallowed by death. Yet the Buddha Venerable had driven the Heavenly Deity away like chasing off a dog with a single palm.
‘Have I been mistaken all this time?’
After erasing the phenomenon of the Sword Venerable, Bu Eunseol had inwardly believed that no matter whom he faced, he would at least not die. But that had merely been the process of dismantling the Natural Sword Style; he had never truly crossed swords with the Sword Venerable in a proper duel.
Though Bu Eunseol walked his own path and had reached an unknown height, he was still far from being able to contend with a master of the Limitless Realm. Moreover, the Buddha Venerable before him stood at a realm so profound that even its limits could not be guessed.
Bu Eunseol could not help but feel genuine humility.
“If we had truly fought, the outcome might have been different.” As though reading his thoughts, the Buddha Venerable spoke calmly. “Yet that strange fellow had no intention of fighting this poor monk.”
Then, with a compassionate smile, he turned to leave. “I shall take my leave.”
“Wait, Great Master—why did you save me, a man of the demonic path?”
“Have you not always acted righteously?” The Buddha Venerable’s smile was one of pure innocence. “Perhaps that is why this old monk’s body moved of its own accord, even from a great distance.”
‘So that was it.’
Before the battle with the Special Divine Ranks, the enormous presence that had been rushing toward this place from the distant sky…
That had been the Buddha Venerable.
He added one more sentence.
“And that is precisely why you are hated by fellow demonic practitioners and are ambushed.”
A strange thought struck Bu Eunseol.
There was no way the Buddha Venerable was ignorant of the Three Realms. So why did he definitively call his attackers “demonic practitioners”?
‘Ah, I see.’
Bu Eunseol instantly grasped the hidden meaning.
‘The Buddha Venerable suspects that the force leaking information to the Three Realms is Majeon itself.’
But that was not important right now.
“Great Master.”
Bu Eunseol immediately brought his hands together in respect and asked, “There is one thing I wish to ask of you. I beg you not to refuse and to grant me an answer.”
The Buddha Venerable’s expression turned curious.
What question could this young man of the demonic path possibly have that made him speak with such desperate courtesy?
“Speak.”
After glancing around, Bu Eunseol took a deep breath and asked,
“Did you know of the Absolute Demonic Blade Project?”
It was both a question and a test.
There was no way the Buddha Venerable, as a participant from the previous generation of Shaolin, could be unaware of it.
If he claimed ignorance…
From that moment on, the Buddha Venerable would become Bu Eunseol’s enemy.
“Amitabha.” The Buddha Venerable’s deep eyes narrowed. “How did you come to hear of something not even a single soul in the martial world knows?”
That answer alone was tantamount to admitting he knew of the Absolute Demonic Blade Project.
‘Good.’
“I learned of it by chance while tracing the whereabouts of the previous generation’s expert, Bu Zhanyang, the Seven-Finger Demon Blade.”
“By chance, you say.”
Deep sorrow clouded the Buddha Venerable’s face, wrinkled like ancient bark. Shaking his head, he gazed at the distant sky and murmured, “That is a sin not only of Shaolin, but of the entire orthodox martial world.”
Then, in a low voice, he revealed something utterly shocking.
“Because of a mistaken prophecy, countless people lost their lives.”
Thud.
Bu Eunseol’s face looked as though he had been struck on the back of the head.
The old Dharma Seeker Moryun…
He had made a mistaken prophecy, and because of it, countless people had died?
“A mistaken prophecy? What do you mean?”
“The timing.” The Buddha Venerable spoke calmly yet firmly. “Dharma Seeker Moryun miscalculated when the prophecy would begin.”
He shook his head again. “As a result, everyone who participated in the Absolute Demonic Blade Project, and everyone who knew of it, died.”
“Yet you still live, Great Master.”
The Buddha Venerable gave a faint smile.
“Do I appear to be truly alive?”
It was a bitter smile whose meaning was hard to grasp.
Perhaps he had tried every possible way to atone for that sin, yet ultimately failed.
Perhaps he had lived until now in grief over the deaths of Shaolin’s disciples.
“If anyone sees you speaking with this old monk, your position will become even more difficult.” He seemed to change the subject abruptly, but it was nevertheless true.
At present, Bu Eunseol had not yet won the full hearts of the demonic faction. Even a friendly conversation with the Buddha Venerable could arouse the suspicion of countless demonic practitioners.
“Thank you for your concern. But I do not mind such things.”
“That is well.” The Buddha Venerable smiled gently and nodded. “The storms of the martial world are fierce; always be careful.”
“Thank you.” Bu Eunseol bowed respectfully, but when he raised his head, the monk had already vanished like mist.
As though he had never been there at all.
For a long while, Bu Eunseol stood in a daze.
In the end, the Buddha Venerable had known everything and declared that Dharma Seeker Moryun’s prophecy had been wrong. That meant there was a secret to the Absolute Demonic Blade Project that even the current Blood Shaolin Abbot Dam Jeung did not know.
“I’m going back.” Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
“Even after all that pruning, the Three Realms still have spies inside.”
Uncovering the Absolute Demonic Blade Project was important, but right now he had to return to Majeon and exterminate every last person involved in this ambush.
***
Majeon was turned upside down.
While Bu Eunseol was returning, he had been attacked by an unidentified force.
Attacking the successor of Majeon was tantamount to challenging Majeon itself.
When it became known that the entire area around Joyang had been completely surrounded just to assassinate him, the atmosphere in Majeon froze like thin ice.
—Could there be a mole from an outside force even in the Shadow Pavilion, the greatest intelligence organization of the demonic path?
The movements and return route of the Martial Soul Command Lord were thoroughly concealed by the Death Shadow Corps, the intelligence unit he personally led.
Yet from the moment he entered Honam Province, the Shadow Pavilion took over part of the escort duty and jointly managed the information received from the Death Shadow Corps.
In other words, unless the Death Shadow Corps betrayed him, the leak could only have come from the Shadow Pavilion.
—We will investigate the Shadow Pavilion from top to bottom.
When Bu Eunseol declared his intent to audit the Shadow Pavilion, Majeon’s highest intelligence organ, every figure in Majeon paled.
The Shadow Pavilion was no ordinary intelligence agency.
It swore loyalty only to the Demon Emperor and obeyed only his commands.
Even the Chief Instructor Yeop Hyocheon could only view information; he could not issue orders.
It was effectively the Demon Emperor’s direct organization.
Yet Bu Eunseol intended to audit such a Shadow Pavilion.
From the senior elders who already disliked him to the Lord of the Strategy Hall himself, all stepped forward to dissuade him.
“You must not touch the Shadow Pavilion.” Dan Wolhon, Lord of the Strategy Department, came personally to Bu Eunseol’s office with a grave expression.
“Instead, request an audience with the Demon Emperor. Your attack is an attack on Majeon itself. Even if he is in seclusion, it is reason enough.”
The moment Bu Eunseol laid a hand on the Shadow Pavilion, it would become a wasteland.
Because it would be seen as challenging the Demon Emperor’s authority.
He absolutely could not be allowed to proceed with the investigation.
“No.” Yet Bu Eunseol answered firmly. “I already possess concrete evidence that information leaked from within Majeon. If we overlook this, the same thing will happen again.”
“Then let this Lord meet the Emperor in seclusion instead.”
“It would be pointless.”
“Why?”
“Because he is not here.”
Bu Eunseol knew very well that the Demon Emperor currently in seclusion was not in Majeon. He had no intention of waiting patiently for the Emperor’s return or leisurely searching for him.
In the meantime, the Shadow Pavilion would erase every trace.
“Still, it cannot be done.”
“Why not?”
“The moment you touch the Shadow Pavilion, the Chief Instructor will immediately strip you of your position.” Dan Wolhon’s expression was deadly serious. “Do you think I am doing this because I favor you?”
There was only one reason he was desperately trying to stop Bu Eunseol.
For the sake of his daughter, Dan So-ok.
If Bu Eunseol fell from power, his daughter—who would soon become Chief Instructor—would grieve.
“You must think of the family that depends on you.” When gentle words seemed to have no effect, Dan Wolhon softened his voice further. “What will happen to So-ok… no, to the subordinates who live only for you?”
After a moment of thought, Bu Eunseol answered as though he had no choice.
“Then please grant me one favor, Lord.”
“A favor?”
Bu Eunseol took out a thin booklet from his robes and handed it over.
“What is this?”
When Dan Wolhon opened it with a puzzled look, he found detailed records of the troops and an organizational chart managed by Majeon.
“The personnel roster of Majeon?”
“Something like that.” Bu Eunseol spoke firmly. “Please investigate the individuals marked in red. Among them are those colluding with outside forces.”
“Are you now telling this Lord to investigate Majeon personnel in your stead?”
“After all, Lord, you already command most of Majeon’s forces, do you not?” Bu Eunseol continued with a relaxed expression. “No one would question the Lord investigating his own subordinates. There would be far less resistance as well.”
Dan Wolhon’s thick eyebrows twitched.
He had spoiled the boy because of his daughter. And now the lad was trying to use the fifth-highest authority in Majeon as his investigator?
If he did as Bu Eunseol asked, the Strategy Hall Lord would be ridiculed for following the orders of the Martial Soul Command Lord.
No matter that he was his daughter’s future husband—this demand was far too much.
“I refuse.” Dan Wolhon stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and spoke coldly. “Did you truly expect this Lord to do such a thing? You still have much to learn.”
He turned with a contemptuous snort.
“I take my leave.”
Bu Eunseol immediately brought his hands together in a polite bow. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For coming here because you were worried about me.”
Dan Wolhon paused as though the words had struck him, but soon left the office.
Drdrdrk.
Not long after Dan Wolhon departed, Yoo Unryong entered wearing scholarly robes, his face grave.
“No matter how you look at it, that was too much this time.”
“…”
“The Strategy Hall Lord came personally out of consideration for your face. Giving him a booklet and telling him to investigate in your place? He is not your aide.” Yoo Unryong spoke as though he could not comprehend it. “Moreover, if you had already perfectly identified the suspects, why not just investigate ourselves? There is no need to waste time.”
“It was a fake.”
“What?”
“I couldn’t find the real suspects. From the beginning, they were confident they had erased all traces… which is why they dared to snipe at me.”
Yoo Unryong’s mouth fell open. “Then why show him that booklet? What if Lord Dan had actually investigated the marked names?”
“He is a man of strong pride. Even if I had begged on my knees for him to merely glance at it, he would not have looked.” Bu Eunseol calmly lifted his teacup. “But he would come to stop me from touching the Shadow Pavilion. Lord Dan cherishes his daughter dearly.”
“So even the declaration that you would thoroughly investigate the Shadow Pavilion was…?”
“Yes. Merely a rumor created to make Lord Dan come to me.” Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed. “Lord Dan will now firmly believe that I have uncovered every suspicious person in Majeon and intend to investigate them.”
“…”
“And that rumor will spread downward through Lord Dan.”
He smiled at Yoo Unryong.
“Once such a rumor spreads, the Shadow Pavilion will never sit still.”
“Whether it is fake or real… if they stay quiet, the Shadow Pavilion could genuinely be torn apart.”
“Exactly.”
Yoo Unryong’s jaw dropped.
He knew Bu Eunseol was brilliant, but to use even a person’s goodwill as part of a scheme…
“This is not like you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Gongsun Dankyung—haven’t you been dyed too deeply by her?” Yoo Unryong spoke with a serious face.
“Using others’ goodwill and relationships for schemes… that is Commander Gongsun’s specialty.”
He was right.
Bu Eunseol had naturally learned such stratagems from being close to Gongsun Dankyung.
“Moreover, the Shadow Pavilion Lord might see through your plan.”
“Of course that is possible.” Absolute certainty shone in Bu Eunseol’s eyes. “But what if, by some chance, it were real? What if the Shadow Pavilion were truly turned upside down?”
“Then… the Demon Emperor’s authority would collapse.”
“Precisely.” A faint smile touched Bu Eunseol’s lips. “The Shadow Pavilion Lord will never tolerate that.”
Yet contrary to his mouth, bloody light flickered in his eyes.
“He will bring me not just a tail, but at least a satisfactory body.”
Yoo Unryong felt a slight chill.
Bu Eunseol was indeed brilliant, but he was not the type to use others’ goodwill as a weapon.
Of course, this incident could be seen as trivial…
Yet Yoo Unryong suddenly worried that Bu Eunseol might be stained by the cold-blooded strategist Gongsun Dankyung.
“I understand what you mean, but…”
Yoo Unryong nodded and spoke in a low voice.
“Do not use such schemes again. If Lord Dan ever learns the truth, he will be deeply disappointed.”
No one wishes to discover their pure goodwill has been exploited.
Yoo Unryong feared that because of this stratagem, the favor Dan Wolhon held for Bu Eunseol might vanish.
“These days, Majeon—no, the entire demonic faction—is already not kindly disposed toward us.”
Because of the previous Hyeok Ryeon-eung incident, Bu Eunseol had once again weakened Majeon’s power. And now he was about to overturn the Shadow Pavilion as well…
It was only natural to worry.
“I understand.” Bu Eunseol nodded. “I will ensure it does not happen again.”
Hearing the easy answer, Yoo Unryong nodded, yet still let out a sigh.
He knew all too well that to Bu Eunseol, whether Majeon collapsed or the Martial Alliance collapsed made no difference whatsoever.
Bu Eunseol’s prediction was spot-on.
Only one day after Dan Wolhon’s visit, the Shadow Pavilion Lord suddenly sent a subordinate requesting a private audience with Bu Eunseol.
In the entire history of Majeon, the Shadow Pavilion Lord had never requested a private audience with anyone except the Demon Emperor.
It was utterly unprecedented.
Yet Bu Eunseol sent this reply:
—If you wish to see this Command Lord, set a date and come personally to the Suppressed Demon Pavilion.
The Shadow Pavilion Lord’s pride seemed deeply wounded and there was no reply for a long while.
But in the end, he had no choice but to come.
The matter was far too grave to stand on pride.
—Very well. I shall visit tomorrow around the hour of Mi (1-3 pm).
As soon as the reply arrived, Bu Eunseol ordered Yoo Unryong,
“Inform the Captains of the Death Shadow Corps. At the exact time the Shadow Pavilion Lord arrives, have them lead troops from the Shadow Pavilion itself to escort him here.”
Hearing the command, Yoo Unryong could barely contain his laughter.
If the Captains of the Death Shadow Corps led troops to greet the Shadow Pavilion Lord at the appointed hour?
It would look exactly like criminals being dragged to the Suppressed Demon Pavilion.
“Is there really a need to go that far?”
“In the demonic path, authority and power are everything.”
Bu Eunseol answered as though it were nothing.
“Until now, everyone in Majeon believed the Shadow Pavilion Lord stood above even the Martial Soul Command Lord.”
“…”
“But once they witness this spectacle, the world’s perception will change.”
Yoo Unryong’s mouth fell open.
Ever since entering the Martial Alliance…
Bu Eunseol had become far more refined, and far more adept at piercing the hearts of men.
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