Seo Jinha was a man who understood a woman’s heart better than anyone.
He had predicted this entire situation and had already prepared a gift for Jongri Sayu from the Death Shadow Pavilion’s treasury beforehand.
“Of course it is only natural.”
Seo Jinha gazed into Jongri Sayu’s eyes with a deep, affectionate look.
“I even brought a love token to give to you.”
“A love token… is it?”
Jongri Sayu, who had been smiling brightly, suddenly spoke in a slightly colder tone as a certain thought crossed her mind.
“It wouldn’t happen to be some common jewel or trinket, would it?”
She stated firmly.
“Since our paths are different, I want something definite. A clear mark… that the Command Lord gave it to me.”
Though she had fallen in love, she was by no means a foolish woman.
As long as they had not publicly announced an engagement, any secret love token exchanged between them would be utterly useless.
Thus, she did not want jewels or ornaments that could be bought with money. She desired an identifying item that could prove the giver’s status, or perhaps a cherished personal belonging.
Anything that could be purchased anywhere would not serve as proper proof.
“Of course. Before coming here, I stopped by the Death Shadow Pavilion’s treasury and brought something.”
“Something from the Death Shadow Pavilion’s treasury?”
“Indeed.”
Seo Jinha, who had been gazing at Jongri Sayu with warm eyes, turned his body and called out in a loud voice.
“Move the gift I brought to the lady’s quarters.”
At his command, servants waiting in the distance groaned as they carried over a large object wrapped in red cloth.
Judging by its weight and size, it appeared to be something exceedingly precious.
“That large thing?”
“Since it is a gift for you, how could I spare any expense?”
Seo Jinha added one more remark.
“It is the only one of its kind in the world. So keep it safe.”
“The only one in the world.”
Given its size, it certainly seemed like a rare treasure that could not even be duplicated.
“Thank you.”
Jongri Sayu smiled brightly.
“Since your feelings are so firm, I will immediately persuade Grandfather.”
“I am grateful. However…” Seo Jinha cupped his hands respectfully. “This matter is urgent, so if possible, I would appreciate it if you could handle it quickly…”
“Is it that pressing?”
“Of course. If we miss the timing, annihilating them and stabilizing the martial world will become nothing more than a dream.”
Jongri Sayu pondered for a moment before nodding.
“Follow me.”
She led Seo Jinha into a secluded storehouse deep within the Jongri estate.
After disabling several mechanisms, a highly secret stone chamber was revealed.
A cool chill flowed through the air, and a small metal box rested inside.
“Here it is.”
When she opened the metal box, an indescribably refreshing fragrance wafted out.
It was none other than the Needle King’s lifelong masterpiece—the Needle King Pellet, capable of instantly neutralizing the poison of Human Flowers.
“This is the Needle King Pellet?”
“Yes. Take it.”
Seo Jinha hesitated for a moment.
“How will you bear the elder’s wrath when he finds out?”
“What more could happen than being disowned?” Jongri Sayu replied calmly. “It is not for anywhere else—it is to deal with the forces behind the puppets.”
“But still…”
“Well, if I have nowhere to go, I can always go to Majeon.”
Seo Jinha felt a chill run down his spine.
He could not tell whether she was serious or joking.
“It’s a joke.”
Jongri Sayu smiled and held out the metal box.
“Hurry and take it.”
Her beaming smile was truly beautiful.
Moreover, her generous heart—willing to give away a treasure like the Needle King Pellet without hesitation—was also to his liking.
‘She really is a good woman.’
“Thank you.”
Seo Jinha bowed with utmost courtesy, placed the metal box in cloth, and tied it securely to his body.
“Great events will soon unfold in the martial world.”
Seo Jinha looked at Jongri Sayu.
“And criticism will pour in against the main sect. But I hope you will trust me without fail.”
Soon, Bu Eunseol would strike the Heavenly Blessing Medicine Forest to deal with the Infinite Realm and the fact that they were the force behind raising the puppets would be difficult for the Jongri family to accept.
“I will trust you.”
“So easily?”
Jongri Sayu covered her mouth and laughed. “Among all the things you have done until now, was there ever anything ordinary?”
‘She truly is a good woman.’ Seo Jinha smiled inwardly. ‘To act without hesitation, trusting only Bu Eunseol.’
He silently vowed.
He would definitely make every effort to ensure that Jongri Sayu and Bu Eunseol ended up together.
“Then, I shall take my leave.”
“Take care on your journey.”
“You as well.”
Seo Jinha smiled and immediately departed the Jongri estate.
Jongri Sayu saw him off all the way to the gate, then waved regretfully as she murmured.
“Since you even gave me a love token… you could have shown a little more affectionate touch.”
Watching Bu Eunseol’s shadow fade into the distance, she suddenly exclaimed.
“There is the token, isn’t there?”
Remembering the large object covered in red cloth, she hurried back to her quarters.
An identifying item from the Death Shadow Pavilion’s treasury, the only one of its kind in the world.
Since he had brought such a thing, it was undoubtedly precious—and surely filled with his personal touch.
Jongri Sayu intended to soothe her long yearning with it.
“It really is huge.”
Staring at the red cloth standing in her quarters, Jongri Sayu’s mouth fell open.
What on earth had he brought that it was taller than she was?
Swish.
As she removed the red cloth, her jaw dropped in shock.
“This is…”
Jongri Sayu rubbed her eyes.
Beneath the cloth stood a dazzling statue coated in gold leaf.
It was a massive sculpture modeled after Bu Eunseol’s real appearance.
“What is this?”
Jongri Sayu wore a dumbfounded expression.
The gold-leafed Bu Eunseol bore an exaggerated smile.
With one arm, he pointed dramatically toward the distant sky.
And beneath the statue…
—To eternally pass down for ten thousand generations the immortal achievements of the great grand master of demonic martial arts, who lives forever in the hearts of all humanity, and the magnificent Martial Soul Command Lord Bu Eunseol, who will lead the next era of the martial world…
Lines of praise so over-the-top that merely reading them could drive one mad were densely engraved.
“Ugh.”
As Jongri Sayu read the inscription, she felt nauseous.
For some reason, her stomach turned uneasy.
Moreover, just looking at the gleaming smile on the gold-leafed statue’s face caused her mouth to twitch.
And for whatever reason, the pose pointing to the distant sky was extremely exaggerated, and somehow his belly even appeared to protrude.
In the end, Jongri Sayu could not bear it and covered it again with the red cloth.
“To the storehouse…”
Staggering, she clutched her forehead and shouted to the servants.
“Take this thing to the storehouse at once!”
***
At that moment, in the Suppressed Demon Pavilion.
Yoo Unryong’s office.
“Captain!”
His aide, Mu Gwang, burst into the office in a panic.
“Something terrible has happened!”
“What is it?”
“The treasury of the main pavilion has been robbed.”
“The treasury was robbed?”
“The most precious treasure stored in the main pavilion has vanished.”
Just then, with loud thuds, Won Semun and Jo Namcheon rushed in.
“Captain Yoo!”
Won Semun jumped in agitation as he spoke urgently.
“A treasure from the main hall has been stolen!”
Yoo Unryong frowned.
“So what exactly was stolen?”
Jo Namcheon shouted from beside him.
“The statue of the Command Lord that we Death Shadow Pavilion warriors pooled our salaries to create has been taken!”
Yoo Unryong blinked in confusion, then sighed and shook his head.
‘Haa.’
These men did not merely respect or admire Bu Eunseol—they had turned him into an object of worship. Before anyone noticed, the Death Shadow Pavilion had become a tightly bound pseudo-religious sect.
And the obsession of those fervent fanatics grew ever more intense…
—Come to think of it, why is there no statue of the Command Lord in the main hall?
—Shouldn’t we preserve his magnificent appearance while he is still young?
—Since the Chief Instructor won’t do it, let’s do it ourselves!
Led by Won Semun, all the warriors collected money and brought in the most renowned sculptor from Gangnam, Master Cheol Dae.
They had a life-sized statue made in Bu Eunseol’s likeness.
—And please engrave these words.
Once the statue was complete, the captains demanded that phrases filled with their reverence be carved onto the stone.
—I absolutely… cannot do it.
The sculptor had already felt uneasy creating a statue with such an exaggerated smile and awkward pose.
Yet now they wanted him to write these absurd lines of praise?
—I am an artist, not someone who engraves such words…
As Master Cheol Dae firmly refused, Wi Cheongyeong placed before him a box filled with gleaming yellow gold ingots.
—…I have long dreamed of this. I shall do my utmost to engrave them.
Master Cheol Dae poured his life’s effort into completing the inscription.
And finally, when the statue was finished, the Death Shadow Pavilion warriors proudly displayed it right in front of the pavilion.
—What on earth is this?
By the grace of heaven, fortunately, before anyone from Majeon or Bu Eunseol himself could see it, Yoo Unryong discovered the statue first.
—You crazy bastards!
Furious, he immediately had the statue shoved into the warehouse entrance.
The Death Shadow Pavilion warriors were full of complaints, but they could not disobey the order of Yoo Unryong, the de facto leader who handled all the pavilion’s affairs.
—What does it matter if it’s in the warehouse? We can just visit it from time to time.
In the end, the Death Shadow Pavilion warriors went to the warehouse entrance morning and evening to stand before Bu Eunseol’s statue.
They even burned incense and bowed before it.
—Is this a shrine to Guan Yu?
Seeing this, Yoo Unryong roared in anger.
—Stop this nonsense at once!
The captains and members of the Death Shadow Pavilion replied in unison.
—Hah, a shrine to Guan Yu? Compare properly.
—What?
—Think about it. Even if it were Guan Yun-chang, if he faced the Command Lord, his head would fall before forty exchanges, wouldn’t it?
Yoo Unryong was dumbfounded and speechless, yet somehow it seemed convincing.
—Well… no matter how valiant Guan Gong was, he couldn’t block that fellow’s Wishful True Binding with hundreds of years of inner force.
—Exactly.
Yoo Unryong sniffed helplessly.
—If you must do it, do it only here. This must never leak outside.
—Ah, don’t worry! That will never happen.
In the end, Yoo Unryong turned a blind eye.
He could not stop them from doing it in a corner of the warehouse.
But an unexpected situation arose.
Seo Jinha began rummaging through the Death Shadow Pavilion’s warehouse to find a gift for the Jongri family.
—Oh, this is…!
And tragically, he too…
was no different from the Death Shadow Pavilion warriors—an ardent fanatic of Bu Eunseol.
—To think such a magnificent item existed!
Gazing in awe at the gleaming statue of Bu Eunseol, Seo Jinha unhesitatingly chose it as the love token for Jongri Sayu.
—Why are you taking this out?
When Seo Jinha visited his office, Yoo Unryong frowned.
—What do you plan to do with it?
Seo Jinha declared confidently.
—Anyone would love a gift like this. Right?
Looking at Seo Jinha’s sparkling eyes, Yoo Unryong clutched his forehead.
He had thought at least one of them was sane… but no, he was just the same.
—Do whatever you want.
Ending his recollection, Yoo Unryong sighed and said,
“It was taken out for a certain mission.”
“A certain mission?”
“It was given as a gift to someone. Just know that much.”
Hearing the story, Won Semun’s mouth fell open.
“Our devotion?”
Jo Namcheon murmured in a trembling voice beside him.
“The treasure containing the wishes and devotion of the main hall’s warriors, which we would not trade for ten million gold?”
“Yes, yes.” Yoo Unryong waved his hand wearily. “Your wishes and devotion have surely been conveyed well. Now leave.”
Without even looking at them, he began writing letters again.
Watching him, Won Semun and the others exchanged glances, then turned away helplessly.
“No choice.”
In the lowest possible voices, they whispered.
“We’ll have to make another one.”
“This time, even bigger.”
“And place it right at the main hall’s entrance.”
***
Majeon’s Blood Martial Corps had completed preparations for deployment.
Under Bu Eunseol’s leadership, a force capable of wiping out the Heavenly Blessing Medicine Forest in one fell swoop had been assembled.
The most surprised were not Majeon’s warriors, but the captains of the Death Shadow Pavilion.
The Chief Instructor, Yeop Hyocheon—who they had sworn would never approve such a thing—had given his consent.
—How on earth did you persuade the Chief Instructor?
To the captains’ question, Bu Eunseol replied thus:
—I merely reminded him once more that the Chief Instructor is not the vice-lord.
At Bu Eunseol’s words, the captains wore puzzled expressions.
Because of the Majeon Lord, who was perpetually in seclusion, was it not Yeop Hyocheon who effectively managed and commanded all of Majeon’s affairs?
He held power that was practically that of vice-lord—or even greater.
Yet Bu Eunseol had persuaded him simply by reminding him that he was not the vice-lord? What did that even mean?
“Captain Yoo.”
Rumble.
In the end, the captains of the Death Shadow Pavilion swarmed to Yoo Unryong and subtly asked.
“We simply cannot understand the Command Lord’s words.”
Yoo Unryong, busy with various tasks for the expedition, frowned.
“Why are you curious about that?”
“Well, how could we not be? We are so curious we cannot even sleep.”
At Won Semun’s words, Jo Namcheon nodded.
“That’s right. Not only us, but our subordinates are losing sleep over it too. If the curiosity lingers, it will affect the morale of the members.”
“Oh, what a fine excuse.”
Though it was nonsense, perhaps finding it somewhat plausible, Yoo Unryong spoke.
“Do you know why the Chief Instructor became the Chief Instructor?”
“Well…”
Won Semun nodded, then blinked.
Come to think of it, the position of Chief Instructor originally existed not in Majeon, but in demonic sects with strong religious characteristics, like the Bae Sect or Blood Sect.
Then why had the Majeon Lord elevated Yeop Hyocheon—who had been the Nightless Heavenly Lord—to the position of Chief Instructor instead of filling the vacant vice-lord seat?
Won Semun stammered.
“Well, since the vice-lord did not die but went missing, he had no choice but to grant the position of Chief Instructor, right?”
“Then what is the difference between the vice-lord and the Chief Instructor?”
“That is…” Won Semun mumbled.
Even Jo Namcheon, and the wise and deep-thinking Wi Cheongyeong, could not answer and remained silent.
“What exactly is the difference?”
When Won Semun asked, Yoo Unryong calmly replied.
“The Chief Instructor has managed all of Majeon’s affairs in place of the Demon Emperor until now. But he has never proactively issued orders or commands.”
In that instant, the captains’ eyes gleamed.
—Come to think of it?
He was right.
Upon reflection, the Chief Instructor had never once proactively given an order or assigned a mission.
He had only approved missions requested by subordinates or issued rewards and punishments—that was all.
“You’re right.” Jo Namcheon blinked. “Have any of you ever heard the Chief Instructor directly issue a command?”
Everyone shook their heads.
All missions until now had been ordered by the heads of each organization.
And the Chief Instructor, who ultimately commanded those heads, had only decided whether to approve the missions.
He had never proactively assigned a single mission.
“Looking back, it is strange.” Then Wi Cheongyeong stroked his chin and spoke. “Isn’t the Chief Instructor a position in sects that educates all the followers?”
“Correct. More precisely, it is the position that checks whether the followers deviate from the sect’s doctrine and imposes sanctions if they do.”
“Was the Demon Emperor from a sect background?”
When Won Semun gave an irrelevant answer, a flash sparked in Wi Cheongyeong’s eyes.
“So that’s… how it was.”
Won Semun and Jo Namcheon looked at Wi Cheongyeong and asked.
“What is it? What does that mean?”
“In simple terms, the Majeon Lord strictly limited the Chief Instructor’s scope of duties, just like in a sect. That is why the position of Chief Instructor was created.”
“But isn’t that merely a nominal regulation? The authority of the Chief Instructor, who has long managed Majeon in the Majeon Lord’s stead, should be greater than that.”
When Jo Namcheon sharply countered, Wi Cheongyeong continued.
“Of course, it would not be an exaggeration to say the Chief Instructor is effectively the vice-lord. However.” Wi Cheongyeong calmly went on. “In a situation where the Majeon Lord is absent? To what extent can the Chief Instructor bear responsibility?”
“Huh?”
“Judging by the Command Lord’s attitude, the true nature of the Heavenly Blessing Medicine Forest is clearly not merely a subordinate force. This expedition will undoubtedly be a grave matter that could shatter the balance of the main hall or even the demonic path.” Wi Cheongyeong said. “But the Chief Instructor has no authority whatsoever in such matters. Because, after all, he is the Chief Instructor.”
At Wi Cheongyeong’s words, Yoo Unryong wore an expression of admiration.
In truth, the captains had not yet fully understood the Three Realms.
But Wi Cheongyeong, who had long handled information, had already vaguely grasped the entire situation and even sharply discerned the true status of the Chief Instructor that Bu Eunseol had uncovered.
‘Now that the time has come to deal with the Infinite Realm, I should reveal all the truth.’
Yoo Unryong took a deep breath.
At last, he would tell the captains of the Death Shadow Pavilion the current state of the martial world, the Three Realms organization, and everything Bu Eunseol had discovered thus far.
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