The letter delivered by Bu Eunseol contained the following:
The Thousand Swords Society had already been completely massacred by the Heaven-Piercing Division Commander.
“Because of me.”
Yoo Hwaryeong bit his lip.
In the end, because of the plan he had carried out, the Thousand Swords Society—which had barely been clinging to existence—had been uprooted entirely.
Thud.
Overwhelmed by guilt, he lowered his head.
He had intended only to throw away his life and achieve mutual destruction with the Heaven-Piercing Division Commander, thereby completing his revenge.
Instead, because of him, the entire Thousand Swords Society had been wiped out.
“What is there left to live for?”
Tears streaming down his face, Yoo Hwaryeong gathered his internal energy.
He was about to sever his heart meridians instantly.
“Sect Leader, do not act rashly.”
Guessing his intent, Palace Lord Hwa Mi spoke quickly.
“If even you take your own life now, your deceased senior and junior brothers will be unable to close their eyes in peace from the injustice.”
Yoo Hwaryeong shook his head.
“But I no longer have the strength to take revenge.”
“Please finish reading the letter.”
“The letter…”
Wiping his tear-filled eyes, Yoo Hwaryeong continued reading.
It said that Bu Eunseol was already moving to deal with the Heaven-Piercing Division Commander, and urged him to rest and recuperate in the Azure Cloud Sea Palace until his dantian fully recovered.
“He… intends to kill a Martial Alliance Commander for my sake?”
Bu Eunseol was the successor of Majeon.
If he killed the Heaven-Piercing Division Commander without any justification, not only the Martial Alliance but the entire orthodox-demonic war would erupt.
“Do not worry. You know well the Command Lord’s wisdom, do you not? He will handle it without any issues.” Palace Lord Hwa Mi smiled benevolently. “There is no need to feel burdened. The Command Lord had long ago marked the Heaven-Piercing Division Commander as a target for elimination.”
“There was no such content in the letter.”
“He conveyed that separately to me.”
Palace Lord Hwa Mi wore a faint smile.
“Of course, he mentioned another reason as well. He said that only by carrying out the blood-soaked revenge of the Thousand Swords Society on your behalf could he invite Sect Leader Yoo to become Chief Steward.”
“Chief Steward?”
Yoo Hwaryeong read the letter to the very end.
At the close, it was written that he was being invited to serve as Chief Steward managing the affairs of the Martial Soul Society.
In exchange for killing the Heaven-Piercing Division Commander.
“So he created the Martial Soul Society.”
He had vaguely heard rumors that strange, grotesque forces had emerged, leading to the formation of the Martial Soul Society, and that they had finally been recognized as a new power in the martial world.
Yet Bu Eunseol wanted to invite him as Chief Steward?
“Then the rumors were true—he is indeed the one who founded the Martial Soul Society.”
“That is correct. The Command Lord created the Martial Soul Society to save countless people.” Palace Lord Hwa Mi said, “But he mentioned it has been difficult to operate properly without a Chief Steward.”
She gazed directly at Yoo Hwaryeong.
“He said that, for the sake of bringing you in as Chief Steward, he must eliminate the Heaven-Piercing Division Commander.”
Staring at the letter, Yoo Hwaryeong suppressed his surging emotions.
Taking one’s own life is easy but living while shouldering the weight of those who died because of him is not.
If, thanks to Bu Eunseol, his blood-soaked revenge were completed?
And if he joined the Martial Soul Society and helped save countless lives?
Then that painful, long life would hold some meaning… and one day, when facing his master and senior brothers in the next world, he could hold his head high with pride.
“I understand. Thank you, Palace Lord.”
Yoo Hwaryeong wiped his tears and smiled.
Now all his duties were fulfilled.
From this point on, he needed only to remain at Bu Eunseol’s side and assist him in saving countless people.
***
Martial Alliance, Heaven-Piercing Division Pavilion.
Sitting in his office examining a report, Yang Daeryang wore a startled expression.
The Thousand Swords Society had originally been a sect that avoided involvement in the martial world, yet this time he had completely exterminated it.
Uprooting the grass and removing the roots.
The Thousand Swords Society had always been a potential future threat.
Though their martial arts had fallen to an unremarkable level, they possessed wealth accumulated over generations but he had believed he removed them perfectly—only for an unexpected weed to remain.
A single report had been delivered to his office, stamped with the name of the Thousand Swords Society.
“That bastard is still alive?”
Of course, Yoo Hwaryeong could be alive.
The martial world had miraculous medicines, so perhaps he had luckily recovered his body.
But no matter how wealthy the Thousand Swords Society was, even if Yoo Hwaryeong had obtained some fateful encounter and perfectly restored himself, secretly sending a letter to his office inside the Martial Alliance… was something absolutely impossible.
“The Thousand Swords Society could not possibly have a hidden intelligence network.”
It was incomprehensible by common sense.
Moreover, the report contained an even more absurd message.
It stated that if he accepted a one-on-one duel, the ancestral tablet of his mother—stolen from Banya Temple—would be returned unharmed.
“I stationed Heaven-Piercing Division Pavilion’s finest agents to guard Banya Temple at all times in preparation for such things.”
Yang Daeryang frowned.
The experts secretly stationed at Banya Temple were elite agents among the best in Heaven-Piercing Division Pavilion. How could someone ghost-like infiltrate it, take the tablet without being detected, and escape?
“Ten days from now, at sunset. Yeongpa Island.”
Muttering the location written in the letter, Yang Daeryang stroked his chin.
It was a very small uninhabited island near Dongting Lake.
Also, because the tiny island was completely open on all sides, it was unsuitable for hiding troops.
“He truly wants a one-on-one duel.”
If another faction were trying to assassinate him?
They would never have used the Thousand Swords Society’s name.
In short, the sender of this letter was genuinely from the Thousand Swords Society and intended to duel alone.
“Interesting.”
Even if the full strength of another sect came—not just the Thousand Swords Society—he had nothing to fear.
With the Immortal Thread Finger Art, he could perfectly block any attack, and he possessed hidden ultimate martial arts unknown to others.
There were not many in the martial world who could kill him in a solo duel.
“A rare amusement has appeared.” Yang Daeryang smiled.
He would retrieve the tablet and accept the challenge from whoever sent the letter.
After that day, Yang Daeryang immediately mobilized his intelligence network, intensively investigating troop movements and forces around not only Yeongpa Island but the entire Dongting Lake area.
Yet nothing was amiss.
He even sent elite agents to Yeongpa Island in advance, but there were no hidden formations or traps.
The sender truly intended to appear there in ten days.
Ten days later.
Arriving at Yeongpa Island in a small boat, Yang Daeryang looked around with curiosity.
There was still half an hour until sunset.
Upon reaching the island, he began thoroughly examining the terrain, the direction of the setting sun, and every detail.
Fights between experts are decided in an instant and by the smallest factors.
Befitting a Martial Alliance Commander who dominated the world, he meticulously checked every minor element that could affect the outcome.
Step, step.
As sunset approached, a faint shadow appeared on the island.
A man with an utterly ordinary face, wearing the grey martial attire commonly seen on mercenaries.
“He used a disguise.”
Yang Daeryang immediately recognized that the man had altered his appearance.
As Heaven-Piercing Division Commander, there were almost no figures in the martial world he could not recognize.
If he possessed such presence yet remained unknown to him?
He could confidently say it was a disguise without needing confirmation.
“If you are using a disguise, then you are not from the Thousand Swords Society.”
“Correct.”
The black-clad man replied calmly.
“I am a mercenary.”
“A mercenary?”
“Yes.”
Yang Daeryang’s eyes narrowed.
Many experts in the martial world operated under various identities.
Yet few chose the identity of a mercenary.
It was because they would be treated the same as the lowliest assassins who lived by the sword.
“To boldly present the identity of a mercenary, which offers no benefit…”
Yang Daeryang tilted his head and asked, “It means you possess a status so high that your true identity must absolutely be hidden?”
“You understand well.”
“You admit it so easily?”
Yang Daeryang narrowed his eyes.
“Then there is another reason for the disguise.”
One thing Yang Daeryang was famous for in the martial world was his love of difficult questions and answers.
He greatly enjoyed asking suspicious things and receiving answers.
If something puzzled him, he could not rest until he uncovered the truth.
“As I heard, you truly love riddles and answers.”
The grey-clad mercenary was none other than Bu Eunseol.
He had come personally to behead Yang Daeryang—the culprit who massacred the Thousand Swords Society’s Ten Seats and possibly the fiend who killed his grandfather.
“I accepted the Thousand Swords Society’s commission to take your head.”
“Heh heh heh. Hahaha!”
Yang Daeryang burst into loud laughter, as if watching the most amusing opera in the world.
A mercenary accepting a commission to behead one of the Martial Alliance’s Seven Great Commanders?
“You might as well say a neighborhood thug became the leader of the Black Flag Society! Hahaha.”
“If the price is right, what job can’t be done?”
“Enough of this poor acting.” Stopping his laughter, Yang Daeryang spoke coldly. “I don’t care whether you’re truly a mercenary or from the Thousand Swords Society. This Commander wants only one thing.”
His eyes flashed.
“Where is the tablet?”
“Why ask me that?”
“What?”
“There is one common delusion among villains who trample others’ lives.”
Bu Eunseol said calmly.
“They believe that because they act that way, others would naturally do the same.”
“What do you mean?”
“I did not touch the remains or tablet stored in Banya Temple.”
Cold killing intent poured from Yang Daeryang’s eyes.
“My subordinates already confirmed the tablet missing.”
“Fooling Heaven-Piercing Division Pavilion agents is difficult, but…”
Bu Eunseol wore a faint smile.
“Bribing the greedy monks of Banya Temple who love money is not.”
“You did not touch the tablet or the remains?”
“Correct. Confirm it again.”
“I don’t understand.” Yang Daeryang shook his head. “Moreover, a mere mercenary, knowing this Commander’s identity, still acts so leisurely…”
Even if the Mercenary King who dominated beyond the borders came, he would not bat an eye.
Yet a top-class mercenary dared to duel him alone?
“Let us begin.”
Bu Eunseol calmly extended his hand.
But he never relaxed his guard.
Heaven-Piercing Division Commander Yang Daeryang.
To conceal the terrifying martial arts he had mastered, he had long spread the false rumor that he gained them through lightning-like fateful encounters.
The publicly known unique art was the orthodox supreme art Immortal Thread Finger Art, capable of catching any attack with his fingers.
But the martial arts he kept hidden would be far greater.
‘This is also a good opportunity.’
Bu Eunseol had crossed swords with Martial Heaven Commander Jo Cheonwang and Star Guard Commander Baekri Mujo among the Seven Great Commanders.
However, the gap in their martial arts had been too vast, so he could not gauge the average level of the Seven Commander.
By killing Yang Daeryang this time, he would be able to measure the strength of the Martial Alliance’s Seven Great Commander.
‘Moreover, if this man is the demon the Thousand Swords Society sought… he may be the culprit who killed Grandfather.’
Bu Eunseol’s heart pounded.
Once the fight began, he would learn whether Yang Daeryang possessed the skill to kill his grandfather and what martial arts he had mastered.
The answer would come.
Shing.
As Bu Eunseol drew the Silent Soul Sword, surprise flashed in Yang Daeryang’s eyes.
“Not a low-class mercenary.”
Experts can gauge strength from the single motion of drawing a sword.
Yang Daeryang instantly realized Bu Eunseol was a tremendous master, fully capable of trading blows with him.
“You are…”
He could not finish his words.
Bu Eunseol had closed the distance in an instant and unleashed a torrent of sword strikes.
Yang Daeryang immediately deployed the Immortal Thread Finger Art, attempting to catch the Silent Soul Sword repeatedly.
Whirr.
But the sword strike changed mid-air and stabbed toward his throat again.
Clang!
Yang Daeryang swiftly flicked the tip of the Silent Soul Sword lightly.
“…!”
For a moment, his expression shifted slightly.
The energy contained in the sword far exceeded his expectations.
“Your internal energy is impressive.”
Yang Daeryang smiled lightly and straightened his posture.
“But that is all.”
Flash!
A sharp purple sword energy zigzagged toward Yang Daeryang’s throat.
The ultimate swift killing sword—Unmatched Thunderbolt Form—had been unleashed.
Clack.
Yet something astonishing happened.
Bu Eunseol’s Silent Soul Sword stopped dead in mid-air.
Yang Daeryang had used the Immortal Thread Finger, clamping the blade firmly between index and middle finger.
“Heh heh.”
He immediately applied force to snap the Silent Soul Sword in two.
Shrrrrk!
Yet at that moment, the Silent Soul Sword began spinning fiercely.
Normally, once caught in the Immortal Thread Finger, a weapon would break before escaping but Bu Eunseol simultaneously unleashed the Grafting Flowers onto Jade from the Thirteen Iron Sword Forms, the Shifting Heaven's Force of the Sword Venerable, and the Self-Oblivion Shatter of the Seven Fist Demon Forms.
In a single motion, he freed himself from the Immortal Thread Finger Art’s pressure.
“Huh.”
Yang Daeryang could not hide his astonishment.
To harmonize the profundities of three supreme martial arts in one strike?
At this level, he was by no means inferior.
Staring silently at Bu Eunseol, Yang Daeryang’s expression hardened.
“Good. I acknowledge your skill.”
He always pretended to be amiable, but in truth he was cruel and arrogant.
No matter where this man had sprung from, he could never forgive someone daring to stand insolently before this Heaven-Piercing Division Commander.
“In truth, the Immortal Thread Finger Art was merely for show.”
White killing intent rose in Yang Daeryang’s eyes.
“I could not use the martial arts I mastered while killing enemies, after all.”
Clang!
At the same moment, an extremely thin soft sword emerged from Yang Daeryang’s right hand.
He had discarded his previous sword and scabbard, keeping a special soft sword coiled inside his wide sleeve at all times.
Swish!
As Yang Daeryang extended his hand, a sharp wind grazed Bu Eunseol’s cheek.
It was the unique sword art of the Thousand Swords Society’s Second Seat, Seok Song—Heavenly Light Sword.
Shhhhk!
Bu Eunseol swung the Silent Soul Sword, shattering the initial strike with a massive boom.
But regardless of breaking the move, sharp energy pierced into Bu Eunseol’s body.
It appeared to be merely Heavenly Light Sword on the surface, but in reality it was the Liu Zhao Sword Art of the Guangil Sect.
Clang, clang, clang!
Each time Yang Daeryang’s sharp internal force collided with the weapon, it burrowed into Bu Eunseol’s meridians.
Hiss.
White smoke began rising from his body.
He had completely dissipated the invading force with the Ban-Geuk Method.
“Not bad. Both your internal energy and swordsmanship.”
As Yang Daeryang offered praise, Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed.
“You stole not only the Thousand Swords Society’s arts but also orthodox sect arts like those of the Guangil Sect.”
Like the Thousand Swords Society, the Guangil Sect had become extinct after its leadership was wiped out in one fell swoop.
“Stole? Hahaha.”
Cold energy rose in Yang Daeryang’s eyes.
“Do you think this Commander would sneak into places like the Thousand Swords Society or Guangil Sect to steal secret manuals?”
‘Then…’
Sharp light flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“You obtain martial arts by killing your enemies?”
“Heh heh heh. You’re quite clever.”
An unknowable gleam flickered in Yang Daeryang’s eyes.
“This Commander has mastered absorption arts.”
“Absorption?”
There is no such thing as “absorption” martial arts in the martial world. What was certain was that, rather than fateful encounters… he was admitting to continuously killing others and seizing their martial arts.
“Is it alright to reveal such a secret so freely?”
When Bu Eunseol asked, Yang Daeryang answered in a low voice.
“Of course.”
White haze rose from Yang Daeryang’s eyes.
“Because only by letting the enemy know I possess absorption energy can I use that power.”
Flash!
Suddenly, Yang Daeryang unleashed another finger sword.
It was the Third Seat of the Thousand Swords Society, Maeng Johyeok’s Blue Rain Purple Lightning Sword Form.
Shhhhhk!
Purple sword energy wrapped around Bu Eunseol’s body.
The Blue Rain Purple Lightning Sword Form poured out continuous sword strikes like purple lightning, while in truth it was a severed-sword style that sought the enemy’s openings.
Swish!
Bu Eunseol no longer observed the sword form and immediately swept it away with overwhelming force.
Whirr!
The Blue Rain Purple Lightning Sword Form melted like snow and instantly turned to mist, piercing Bu Eunseol’s vital points.
‘A walking martial arts manual.’
Now he saw—it merely imitated the Blue Rain Purple Lightning Sword Form on the surface.
In reality, it was the Hundred Dreams Return to Origin Sword of the Baekhaeng Sect.
Whoosh!
As mist burst around him, Bu Eunseol immediately leaped into the air.
An arrow-like sword energy shot from Yang Daeryang’s hand, instantly piercing toward Bu Eunseol’s throat.
It was the Four-Il Sword Art of the Jeomchang Sect.
Shuk.
But as if anticipating the move, Bu Eunseol executed Thousand Jin Drop the moment he leaped, instantly descending back to the ground.
Shrrrk!
Landing, Bu Eunseol unleashed continuous sword strikes.
Though he could not perfectly seize the moment to execute the Supreme Heavenly Flow Form, his swordsmanship—freed from any fixed technique and poured out freely—was more than capable of matching Yang Daeryang’s.
Clang, clang, clang!
Bu Eunseol used the subtlety of Sword-body Unity to unravel the incoming attacks one by one.
Yang Daeryang mysteriously blended sword arts from orthodox and demonic sects, then unleashed them anew as a single mass.
Clang!
When sword met sword, storm-like shockwaves spread in all directions.
Hiss.
Both men retreated one zhang simultaneously.
The exchange between the two martial masters had yet to show a clear victor.
“Shall I gradually reveal my true strength?”
Yang Daeryang wore a peculiar smile.
“If you keep playing around, your head will fall.”
Clack.
Instead of answering, Bu Eunseol sheathed the Silent Soul Sword and assumed a stance.
It was the posture for the Meteor Chasing the Moon Form.
“Hmm, your presence has changed.”
Yang Daeryang nodded with interest, then looked down at his soft sword.
Hummm.
Mysterious light flowed from Yang Daeryang’s soft sword as strange sword hum began spreading.
He was injecting tremendous energy into the soft sword to unleash his true power but Bu Eunseol caught an extremely fleeting opening in the motion of injecting energy.
Shing.
With a low sword hum, the Silent Soul Sword revealed its crimson-heated blade.
The ultimate swift killing sword form that kills with the eyes first—Meteor Chasing the Moon Form—had been unleashed.
Time seemed to flow slowly, yet the Silent Soul Sword moved at extreme speed, stabbing toward Yang Daeryang’s throat.
Flash!
Yet something astonishing happened.
Brilliant crimson light burst from the soft sword in Yang Daeryang’s hand, and it stabbed—not toward Bu Eunseol’s Silent Soul Sword, but perfectly mirroring the Meteor Chasing the Moon Form Bu Eunseol had just unleashed.
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