“What brings you all the way out here to summon me?”
Bu Eunseol glanced around cautiously before asking in a calm, indifferent tone.
“If you missed me, you could have just seen me at the Martial Alliance.”
By now, it was widely known that Seon Woojin had grown close enough to the Bullet King to learn his signature Inner Bullet Technique, making them quite intimate allies.
Since they were already both within the Martial Alliance, there was no real need to meet secretly outside like this.
“Heh heh. Even so, one must still distinguish between public and private matters, mustn’t one?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I called you here for a purely personal reason.”
“Hmm.” Realizing the intent behind Bukgung Ryeong’s words, Bu Eunseol let a faint smile touch his lips.
“Perfect timing, then.”
“What is?”
“I was planning to seek you out anyway, old man. I have something to ask.”
Bukgung Ryeong’s face twisted into a scowl. “Old man? You’re part of the Martial Alliance too—call me Lord Bukgung.”
“Let’s drop the formalities when it’s just the two of us.”
Bu Eunseol stepped closer and asked, “Do you happen to know a way to undo brainwashing?”
“Brainwashing?”
“The Clear River Realm’s methods—it’s brainwashing. Extremely bizarre.”
Bu Eunseol calmly explained how he had discovered the Clear River Realm’s secret facility and the way they brainwashed people.
While he was at it, he also told him everything about A-Yeon.
Aside from his close friends, the person Bu Eunseol trusted most was Bukgung Ryeong.
The man had stood alone against the Three Realms for many years.
Moreover, like Bu Eunseol himself, he had long cast aside prejudices between righteous and demonic paths.
Considering that he was a thoroughly orthodox hero, even honored with a monument recognized by the Martial Alliance, Bukgung Ryeong’s actions were unprecedented in martial history.
“Hmm.”
Bukgung Ryeong listened silently to the story, his expression growing complicated.
He had spent his entire life pursuing them until his feet wore thin, yet he had never uncovered their true purpose.
In that same time, Bu Eunseol had completely grasped what experiments each of the Three Realms was conducting and what they sought. And those experiments… were far more grotesque than anything Bukgung Ryeong had imagined.
“What on earth do those bastards want?” Bukgung Ryeong asked, his face full of incomprehension. “They possess that much power and influence—why obsess over such insane deeds? Are they planning to wage war among themselves?”
“That’s unlikely. If war were their goal, they would have clashed on a grand scale long ago.”
The power and influence of the Three Realms were immeasurable.
Had they truly collided, the martial world would have been destroyed ages ago.
“Yet every one of them firmly believes their actions are all for the sake of protecting the martial world.”
“Protecting the martial world? Those bastards?”
Until now, the Three Realms had manipulated martial factions at will and committed cruel experiments.
From what, exactly, were they protecting the martial world?
“From what I’ve learned so far, there seems to be an abyssal force that opposes the Three Realms—or at least stands against their banner.”
“An abyssal force?”
Bu Eunseol relayed everything he had heard from Yangseol Rin.
“Heh heh heh heh.”
Hearing the tale, Bukgung Ryeong let out a hollow laugh.
The Three Families, known only in legend, were actively operating in the martial world.
The Three Realms were actually closer to the visible powers, while beneath them lurked an abyss that had never revealed itself.
What in the world was going on?
“Just the tip of the iceberg.” Bukgung Ryeong gazed at the sky and sighed deeply. “In the end, the martial world we see is not all there is.”
His expression was desolate.
He had walked the martial world alone for so long, believing his knowledge and experience surpassed anyone’s. Yet in hindsight, he understood less about the current state of the martial world than even the intelligence agents of the Martial Alliance.
Bu Eunseol watched the shaken Bukgung Ryeong and changed the subject.
“Anyway…” He asked again with a grave expression, “Do you know anything about brainwashing?”
“Hmm. What happens when someone is brainwashed?”
“I’m not entirely certain, but it doesn’t merely add a new personality. It seems to change their face and even skin color.”
“Not only adding a personality, but altering skin as well…”
Bukgung Ryeong stroked his chin, his eyes deepening.
A dusty memory from over a decade ago surfaced.
“So that was the Clear River Realm’s doing.”
“You know something?”
“There’s one thing that comes to mind.”
His eyes grew distant as he delved into old memories.
“Twenty years ago, there was an incident where Jong Guryeong, known as the Heavenly Wanderer, suddenly went mad.”
The Heavenly Wanderer was a renowned orthodox hero and a master of the huqin.
“He went mad?”
“Yes. He was discovered burning an entire innocent village to the ground, so I immediately intervened. But contrary to common belief, Jong Guryeong’s martial arts surpassed even mine.”
He was called a renowned hero of the righteous sects largely because of his connections with their leaders.
In truth, his martial prowess had never been particularly impressive. Yet for him to reach a level surpassing the then-unrivaled Bullet King?
“I thought he had taken a drug that explosively unleashed his potential. But even after dragging the fight out, that wasn’t the case. His power was genuine—I could not possibly match him.”
“Then how did you survive?”
“The Heavenly Wanderer was a master of the huqin, wasn’t he? And the instrument he owned was an authentic piece crafted two hundred years ago by Master Sangang of the Xiang River.”
Bukgung Ryeong snorted as he continued.
“He cherished that huqin more than his own life. So I resolved that even if I died, I would at least shatter that damned instrument before I went.”
“…”
“Of course, that might also reveal an opening in the enemy.”
Bu Eunseol couldn’t suppress a wry smile.
‘No wonder we get along so well.’
Their relentless determination—never giving up midway, always seeking a way to fell the enemy until the very end—was strikingly similar.
“So what happened?”
“I pretended to be pushed back by his Xiao Xiang Night Rain technique, then broke into his quarters and seized the huqin stored there.” Bukgung Ryeong frowned, as if reliving the moment. “Suddenly his face twisted into something grotesque, and even his voice changed. It was as if he had become another person entirely.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
Hadn’t A-Yeon, while pursuing him, suddenly changed her face and voice as well?
“Then he screamed and begged me not to destroy the huqin.”
“And then?”
“I shattered it without hesitation, of course. He writhed and screamed for a while, then returned to his original appearance.”
“Destroying the huqin restored him?”
“Yes. And then he said this to me.”
“Like Master Sangang, I sought to reach the pinnacle in both martial arts and musical artistry, but I made the wrong choice.”
The Heavenly Wanderer had gazed sadly at the shattered huqin and continued.
“My lifelong obsession and desire have been destroyed… and thanks to that, I have regained my senses.”
Then he gathered his inner energy.
“I will atone for my crimes with death. Please… do not let my evil deeds be known to the martial world.”
Before the words finished, his chest split open, and blood spurted nearly a foot high.
He had severed his own heart meridians without hesitation and taken his own life.
“Hmm.” Having heard the entire story, Bu Eunseol’s eyes gleamed. “Then the way to undo the brainwashing of someone with dual personalities… is to destroy the goal or obsession they have desired all their life.”
At those words, Bukgung Ryeong gave a faint smile.
‘As expected of this fellow.’
With only a brief description of the situation, he had instantly reached the same conclusion that Bukgung Ryeong himself had pondered for months.
‘This lad can solve it.’
With his insight and analytical ability, no matter how bizarre the problem, he would resolve it in one stroke.
“I thought about it for quite some time myself, and arrived at a similar conclusion.”
“I see.”
Bu Eunseol’s expression turned grave.
What A-Yeon had desired so desperately, even at the cost of her life…
What she had longed for all those years… was none other than his affection.
Which meant that, in the end, the object of her obsession—himself—would have to vanish for her brainwashing to be undone.
“Old man.”
Bu Eunseol spoke with utmost seriousness.
“Join me in this plan.”
“What plan?”
“We have to save her, don’t we?”
Bukgung Ryeong frowned in disbelief. “Not ‘help me,’ but ‘join the plan’? What nonsense is this?”
“The Sword Pavilion is an orthodox sect, not demonic.”
“Hmph. Do you even draw a line between orthodox and demonic in that heart of yours?” Bukgung Ryeong snorted, but his expression remained serious.
A-Yeon, heir to the Sword Pavilion.
Her becoming a puppet of the Three Realms was no light matter.
“Fine. What’s your plan?” As Bukgung Ryeong smacked his lips and asked, Bu Eunseol replied with a grave face.
“What she blindly desires is me. She herself admitted that was why she joined the Clear River Realm.”
“So? Are you really going to marry her?”
“The opposite.”
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath and said, “I will die before her eyes.”
Bukgung Ryeong’s face went blank.
Die in front of A-Yeon? Sacrifice his life to awaken her from the brainwashing?
“Instead, to pull this off, I’ll need your strength, old man.”
Only then did Bukgung Ryeong guess Bu Eunseol’s plan and nod.
“You mean to fake your death.”
“Exactly. But with the brainwashing, her martial arts and intellect have soared tremendously. Ordinary tricks won’t fool her.” Bu Eunseol gave a self-mocking smile. “But if it’s someone on the level of the Bullet King, surely he could kill a mere heir of Majeon, couldn’t he?”
Since killing the Beggar King, Bu Eunseol’s true strength had not been publicly revealed.
Thus, the world believed his prowess barely surpassed the lowest of the Seven Kings of Death.
If the Bullet King acted, most would accept that he could certainly kill Bu Eunseol.
“Even if I step in, it won’t be easy to deceive that girl’s eyes.” Bukgung Ryeong said gravely. “Someone that exceptional would surely verify your death herself.”
“Of course. But I have a useful secret art.”
Bu Eunseol smiled mysteriously and drew forth his inner energy.
A transparent light surged upward, and a mystical aura spread around him.
“What is this?”
Bukgung Ryeong’s eyes widened.
What Bu Eunseol displayed was the Crystal Divine Energy of the Divine Water Palace—something only the Water God, Neung Gyeong, and Vice Palace Master Sa Cheongha should have been able to perform.
“Now that I think about it, how on earth did this happen? I meant to ask back on Ghost Island.”
Bukgung Ryeong looked dumbfounded.
“A man like you—how are you wielding the power of the Divine Water Palace?”
“It just turned out that way.”
“Tell me properly.”
“What, jealous?”
“You little—! Can’t I be curious? What exactly did you do to master the ultimate essence of the Divine Water Palace?”
With no choice, Bu Eunseol briefly explained how he obtained the Crystal Divine Energy.
He told of how Vice Palace Master Sa Cheongha’s narrow-minded cruelty had backfired, ultimately benefiting him.
“Hah.”
Bukgung Ryeong’s mouth fell open.
A demonic practitioner accepting the energy of the Crystal Divine Energy—said to be the purest in the world?
It should have been impossible.
“Are you really demonic? How can someone who trained in demonic arts accept the Crystal Divine Energy?”
“…”
“Don’t tell me you’re a yin-yang person?”
As Bukgung Ryeong’s eyes bulged, Bu Eunseol chuckled and waved his hand.
“Enough nonsense.”
“Then you had masters from both orthodox and demonic sides?”
“What are you saying?”
“If you can accept the Crystal Divine Energy, doesn’t that mean you’ve mastered the ultimate arts of both orthodox and demonic paths at once?”
When Bu Eunseol didn’t answer, Bukgung Ryeong’s mouth gaped.
“It seems I’m right.”
“So what if I am?”
“To teach someone of your caliber… it would have to be the Heavenly Emperor, wouldn’t it?”
“Are you mad? I’m a disciple of Nangyang Pavilion.”
“Then were you planning to become a spy? Only spies risk their lives learning both orthodox and demonic arts together.”
Orthodox and demonic arts cannot mix; learning both at once risks regression or scattering of inner energy.
Thus, only spies ever attempted it.
“Save your sleep-talking for bedtime.”
“Then what is it?”
“Drop your interest.”
“Tell me. Even if you’re the Heavenly Emperor’s disciple, I wouldn’t care. In fact, I’d welcome it.”
“If you keep spouting nonsense, I’m leaving.”
Bukgung Ryeong chewed his lip as he stared at Bu Eunseol’s resolute expression.
“How can I trust you enough to speak? The heir of Majeon is openly serving as a captain in the Martial Alliance…”
He shook his head.
“If this became known, you’d be finished in the demonic faction. You realize that?”
“If I’m finished in the demonic faction, it’ll be your fault, old man.”
“What nonsense.”
“The only one who could betray me is you.”
“You brat! Who said anything about betrayal? If I were going to, I’d have captured you in front of the Vice Alliance Leader and put you on the rack!”
“Then why keep prying and interrogating me? And the rack[i]? Are you some torture officer in a yamen[ii]?”
After bickering for a while, the two glared at each other before sharply turning their heads away.
They were like long-time friends, refusing to yield a single word.
“Enough idle chatter. Listen.”
Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“One ability of this Crystal Divine Energy is that it lets me freely control the organs inside my body.”
In the past, during the third trial of the Heaven-Human Cult’s Sword Tomb, Bu Eunseol had used the Crystal Divine Energy to shift his organs, blocking a fatal sword thrust and saving his life.
He intended to use the same method to deceive A-Yeon.
“Aim your Purple Lightning Golden Rings precisely at my heart. I’ll use the Crystal Divine Energy to make it look as though my heart has been pierced.”
“Hmm.”
Bukgung Ryeong stroked his chin.
If the heart were pierced by a supreme expert like the Bullet King, no one would doubt it.
But there was a problem.
The Bullet King was the Bullet King.
“Impossible.”
He shook his head.
“Even if the Crystal Divine Energy lets you avoid a direct heart strike… you would still suffer fatal wounds and die.”
Taking a deep breath, a single golden ring gleaming with golden light rose into the air before him.
It was the Bullet King’s signature weapon—the Purple Lightning Golden Rings.
Whoosh!
With one ring, he pierced a great tree more than ten chang away.
“Look.”
Bu Eunseol approached and examined the tree closely.
On the front, there was only a tiny hole the size of the golden ring.
But the exit wound on the opposite side was as large as an adult’s fist.
“Purple lightning…”
Bukgung Ryeong’s Purple Lightning Golden Rings contained not only Purple Cloud Thunder Energy and Wind-Thunder force, but overwhelming rotational destructive power as well.
The moment it touched flesh, that ferocious spinning would shred surrounding muscle and organs.
“Hmm.” Bu Eunseol fell into deep thought as he stared at the tree. “Is it impossible to throw it without that purple lightning energy?”
“Of course it’s possible. However…” Bukgung Ryeong’s eyes narrowed. “With her extraordinary intellect and observation, she would immediately see through an Inner Bullet Technique thrown without the purple lightning force.”
The Clear River Realm’s brainwashing did not merely enhance martial arts.
By merging two personalities, it amplified intellect and perception as well.
A-Yeon could spot such deception instantly.
“You’re right.”
After pondering, Bu Eunseol shook his head as if resigned.
“Still, even if the chance is slim, I have no choice but to try.”
“Why?”
“Because I must save her.”
Bukgung Ryeong asked, “Why risk your life to save that girl?”
His gaze upon Bu Eunseol sharpened.
“The Three Realms will continue creating brainwashed puppets. Will you risk your life each time to free them as you’re doing now?”
A-Yeon was hardly the only one brainwashed by the Three Realms.
And a demonic practitioner like Bu Eunseol had no obligation to risk his life for her.
“Old man, aren’t you misunderstanding something?” Bu Eunseol replied firmly, his eyes unwavering. “Do you really think I oppose the Three Realms because I want to ‘save the martial world’?”
“Then why save her?”
“I share a connection with Lady A-Yeon. I simply cannot stand by and watch her be used by the Clear River Realm under brainwashing.”
He added solemnly, “I merely do my utmost in what I can do.”
“I merely do my utmost in what I can do.”
Those words echoed long in Bukgung Ryeong’s mind.
Though his name had somehow ended up on a Hero’s Monument, he had never prided himself on protecting the martial world’s spirit or doing righteous deeds.
Bukgung Ryeong, too, had simply done what he could—and given his all.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Realizing once more what kind of man Bu Eunseol was, Bukgung Ryeong clapped his hands.
“Did I perform chivalrous deeds because I wanted to live some holy life? I merely did what I wished to do, and did it thoroughly.”
He smiled with utter relief.
“People kept praising me as a great hero, a paragon—but every time, it gave me goosebumps and made me want to retch.”
Bukgung Ryeong spoke calmly.
“I simply did what I wanted to do.”
Those words struck a chord, and Bu Eunseol smiled in a way he rarely did.
“Exactly.”
“You don’t distinguish between orthodox and demonic, and like me, you act without restraint… In that case, there is a way.”
“What do you mean?”
“A perfect way to deceive her without you needing to prepare for death.”
Bukgung Ryeong pictured the face of a young man with a completely opposite aura from Bu Eunseol.
If his hunch was correct… the troubles plaguing both young grandmasters would be cleanly resolved.
[i] An ancient torture device
[ii] Government office
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