As the formation was perfectly shattered, the mirrors that had surrounded Bu Eunseol from all sides vanished in an instant.
Then, from deep within the darkness far ahead, with a heavy metallic kuuung sound, another door opened.
The wide-open door in the darkness looked exactly like the gaping maw of some monstrous beast.
Bu Eunseol, gazing at the door from a distance, shook his head.
‘Judging by the appearance… this probably isn’t the final gate.’
An ominous aura seemed to pour out from the door yawning open in the darkness.
Clearly, beyond it lay yet another absurdly difficult trial.
When he thought about it, there was no way someone like Gongsun Hwa-uk would only test martial prowess and wisdom.
He would surely also examine temperament, character, and other qualities to select a spouse truly worthy of his daughter.
‘I should turn back.’
He had already done more than enough.
There was no need to risk passing through any more life-threatening gates.
Bu Eunseol turned around and headed back toward the grand hall entrance.
“……”
But the return path was blocked. No—it had collapsed.
When he had unleashed the Thousand-Hand-Piercing Strike against the God-Forbidden Heavenly Wall, it seemed the entire mechanism structure of Unique Heavenly Star Section had been destroyed.
The only reason he hadn’t noticed earlier was because he had kept pressing deeper inside and had been too busy frantically fighting the immortal demons in the mirror gate.
“So that’s why the family head hasn’t come.”
Since the entrance had collapsed, he must have assumed something went terribly wrong, gathered the household members, and was in the process of clearing the debris.
It would probably take quite a while before Bu Eunseol could get out.
“Then… it’s better to just keep pushing forward.”
Of course, someone of Bu Eunseol’s level could easily clear the collapsed section or simply use disharmony to sweep it away in one go.
But doing so would reveal an internal energy level and martial realm so transcendent that it couldn’t possibly be explained by the identity of “Seon Woojin.”
Rather than waiting indefinitely for someone to clear the way, it would be better to simply proceed.
Rumble…
After leaving the open area, another long passage appeared.
“Is there a hidden door here too?”
His steps, which had been heading outward, suddenly halted.
There should only be one door leading outside, yet his senses were clearly detecting another door.
It was an intuition he could only possess after having repeatedly encountered the arts of the abyssal forces and the Imperial Martial Techniques.
Ziiing.
When he activated Mind's Eye, a door that had been invisible until now opened.
‘So even this was part of the test.’
Bu Eunseol hesitated for a moment.
If there was a normal door and a hidden door… which one should he choose?
The answer was obvious—there was no need to even think about it.
Kuuung.
Without hesitation, Bu Eunseol opened the hidden door and stepped inside.
But something strange happened.
Ziiing.
The moment he entered the long passage, the energies contained within his body… began to discharge on their own.
It felt as though the god of martial arts had descended and was forcibly extracting and examining every ounce of power inside Bu Eunseol’s body.
Ziiing. Ziiing.
The energy flowing out from Bu Eunseol continued to spread outward endlessly.
It was as if something in this passage was greedily devouring his strength.
‘How dare a mere formation…’
Bu Eunseol’s eyes turned icy cold.
For a trivial formation to dare suck away his energy?
This was no longer just a test—it was an insult to his pride as a martial practitioner.
Hwarrrrr.
As rage erupted, black flames began to coil around his entire body.
But something was strange.
Although he had only intended to raise his internal energy, somewhere deep in his mind, something that had been dormant… seemed to awaken.
‘What is this…’
It flowed gently throughout his body like an innate energy, yet it was overwhelmingly powerful.
If he unleashed it, it felt as though he could destroy the entire world.
“Haa…”
As he exhaled, light flashed in his eyes, and it seemed as though the power of the entire universe was swirling into his two hands.
Just as Bu Eunseol’s pupils were about to turn completely black,
Wiiing.
Suddenly, a single streak of clear and pure energy began from the Baihui acupoint at the crown of his head, and started suppressing the surging ink-black energy.
‘This is…’
The energy was so clear it felt as though it were washing each and every bone joint.
And astonishingly, it wasn’t generated from within his body—it was an extremely unfamiliar energy that had been externally infused long ago.
‘It’s that energy from back then.’
When he regained his memories again in the beggar’s nameless valley and underwent another complete bodily transformation…
Along with the short memories of his childhood, there had been a mysterious, hidden energy of unknown origin that had merged with his true innate qi.
‘There’s no time to think deeply right now.’
The energy spreading from the Baihui point turned Bu Eunseol’s black energy into specks of green and red light.
Wuuuung!
As those light specks spread outward, the bizarre force that had been draining the strength from his body immediately vanished completely.
Huuu…
At last, the passage was filled only with peaceful energy.
After taking a deep breath, Bu Eunseol quickly exited the long passage.
At its end, another large door appeared.
‘Is this the final one?’
Even without raising his Void Heart Command, judging from the structure of the building, this was clearly the last gate.
With a heavily tense expression, Bu Eunseol raised his internal energy.
Every gate he had passed so far had been terrifyingly unprecedented.
Now that he had reached the final passage, the trial awaiting him would surely be unimaginably difficult and complex—perhaps even a gate capable of directly striking the spirit.
Kuuung.
Finally, the door opened, and Bu Eunseol slowly stepped inside.
But the scene that greeted him was completely unexpected.
The interior was elegantly decorated, and in the very center stood a beautifully prepared Go board on a table—a proper chess chamber.
“He really meant to play Go?”
Bu Eunseol was utterly dumbfounded.
After installing mechanisms seemingly designed to kill a man, the final gate was genuinely just a game of Go?
“Fine.”
Bu Eunseol sat down in front of the table where the Go board was placed.
“I’ll play.”
But at that moment—
“This way!”
An urgent voice came from the opposite door.
“The passage has completely collapsed! He might have gone near the Cheonwonji area!”
Clang!
Suddenly the door burst open, and through the opposite chamber’s entrance, Gongsun Hwa-uk and dozens of household members rushed in.
“If we reverse the formations starting from this chamber—!”
While urgently directing the household members, Gongsun Hwa-uk suddenly spotted Bu Eunseol sitting calmly in front of the table in the chamber.
His eyes nearly popped out of his head in shock.
“You… how?!”
Gongsun Hwa-uk blinked rapidly and asked,
“How did you get in here?”
“It looked like there were formations installed… so I forced my way through.”
“What?”
Gongsun Hwa-uk pointed toward the passage Bu Eunseol had come from, looking as though he had seen a ghost.
“You entered this chamber through that passage?”
“Yes.”
“You passed through the Cheonwonji?”
Bu Eunseol blinked in confusion.
“Is… something wrong?”
“No… no, nothing.”
For some reason, Gongsun Hwa-uk shook his head with unfocused eyes.
Then he weakly gestured toward Bu Eunseol.
“Since the mechanisms of Unique Heavenly Star Section have collapsed, come out quickly. We’ll play Go another time.”
Gongsun Hwa-uk led Bu Eunseol out of Unique Heavenly Star Section.
He brought him to a pavilion surrounded by a beautiful garden and pond.
By now, bright moonlight poured down, giving the area around the pavilion a dreamy, ethereal atmosphere.
“Wait here for a moment.”
Some time later, when Gongsun Hwa-uk returned, he was carrying a large jar of wine and cups.
“This is thirty-year-old plum wine.”
After setting the jar down, Gongsun Hwa-uk personally rolled up his sleeves and opened the sealed lid.
“I brewed it the year Kyung-ah was born.”
As he began to break the seal, Bu Eunseol, realizing what it meant, quickly reached out.
“Family Head. Please… save this one.”
Plum wine brewed the year Gongsun Dankyung was born.
That could only mean it had been prepared to be drunk together with the man who would become her husband.
He absolutely could not allow it to be opened now.
“It’s fine.”
Gongsun Hwa-uk murmured with a somewhat lonely look in his eyes.
“It seems there won’t be another chance to drink it anyway.”
Shaking his head, he boldly opened the sealed jar.
“Besides you… who else could possibly become Kyung-ah’s husband?”
“What do you mean?”
“You must have already guessed, but that place was a mechanism designed to select a son-in-law. And the test… is over.”
“Already?”
“Hm?”
“I just feel like something was missing.”
Gongsun Hwa-uk blinked his large eyes.
“Missing?”
“Well… shouldn’t you also examine things like character and temperament?”
When Bu Eunseol spoke honestly, Gongsun Hwa-uk gave a faint smile.
“Of course character is the most important thing. More important than martial skill or wisdom.”
He shook his head.
“But there’s no need.”
“Why is that?”
“There are two reasons.”
Gongsun Hwa-uk said,
“First, because you are the man Kyung-ah chose.”
He gazed into the distant sky with infinitely deep eyes.
“Kyung-ah has been an excellent judge of people since she was young. If it’s a man she chose, there’s no need to examine his character or temperament.” Then he continued, “And even if his character and temperament were poor… once a child truly falls in love with someone, they stop listening to their parents’ opinions anyway.”
In other words, if it was the person his child loved, opposition would be meaningless.
“And the second reason is…”
Gongsun Hwa-uk shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Because you passed through the Cheonwonji.”
“What does that mean?”
“Let’s talk about that later.”
With a subtle expression, Gongsun Hwa-uk extended a cup.
“For now… let’s drink.”
He personally filled Bu Eunseol’s cup to the brim with the plum wine.
Even just catching the fragrance was intoxicating—it was both powerfully strong and exquisitely fragrant.
Gulp.
As it went down his throat, it burned like fire, and a fierce heat bloomed in his stomach.
“I brewed it especially strong on purpose. If it’s the man Kyung-ah chose, he must have great alcohol tolerance… so we could drink all night.”
Gongsun Hwa-uk’s expression was that of someone truly facing his son-in-law.
Bu Eunseol smiled softly and nodded.
“Indeed… it seems like excellent wine, worthy of drinking all night with you, Elder.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Gongsun Hwa-uk’s eyes sparkled.
He had called him “Elder” instead of “Family Head.”
Wasn’t that the way one would address a father-in-law?
“Yes… shall I teach you Go while we drink? You said you didn’t know how to play.”
With an excited expression, he ordered a servant to bring a Go board.
Then he carefully taught Bu Eunseol the rules of the game.
Bu Eunseol had excellent memory and intelligence, so he quickly mastered the basics.
‘This is a dream. A sweet dream.’
Right now, Bu Eunseol had truly become the son-in-law of the Gongsun family, and Gongsun Hwa-uk had truly gained a son-in-law.
But it was a dream that would vanish when morning came.
A memory that would remain for a very long time…
An indescribably sweet dream.
“The wine is already gone.”
Before they knew it, dawn was breaking.
Gongsun Hwa-uk looked inside the empty jar with regret.
“It ran out at just the right moment.”
Because it had been brewed with utmost care the year Gongsun Dankyung was born, the wine was both powerfully strong and sweetly fragrant.
“Thank you for keeping an old man company all night. Now go rest.”
“I drank well. Please rest comfortably as well, Elder.”
Just as he was politely bowing and turning to leave,
“Ah, wait.”
Gongsun Hwa-uk took out a single sheet of paper from his robes.
“Take this with you.”
“What is it?”
“A map. Someone is desperately waiting for you.”
When Bu Eunseol tilted his head in confusion, Gongsun Hwa-uk smiled.
“Twenty years ago, this family head once visited the Red Mountain in the Western Regions. In the Muaam Valley there, we discovered the Demon-Subduing Scripture.”
Bu Eunseol let out an “Ah.”
Red Mountain was the location of Kwangyang Temple—the very place he had once gone to borrow the Great Wish Mirror in order to reach the Azure Cloud Sea Palace.
“They say the Demon-Subduing Scripture contains profound hidden formations. But before I could even enter Red Mountain, I was nearly killed by a man called the Blood Wind Shadow, known as the Great Demonic Dispersing Hand.”
He continued calmly, “When I was on the verge of death from his attack, I was saved by an old lama.”
When Bu Eunseol tilted his head again, Gongsun Hwa-uk went on, “He said he had spent his entire life wandering, searching for a certain child. A child who carried the Primordial Hidden Qi that he had once infused.”
“Primordial Hidden Qi…”
“He told me that if I ever found a young person in the Central Plains possessing such power, I must send him to him.”
Gongsun Hwa-uk nodded.
“And you… possess the Primordial Hidden Qi.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
Gongsun Hwa-uk said, “The gates you broke were not the ones I created to test a son-in-law. They were built according to diagrams given by that great master, designed to identify the person he was searching for.”
‘No wonder they felt like man-killing mechanisms.’
So the gates Bu Eunseol had shattered… had not been intended to test prospective sons-in-law, but to distinguish the person the Western Region lama was seeking.
‘Wait… a lama…’
Suddenly, something occurred to Bu Eunseol.
He recalled stories he had heard during the time he first regained his memories.
Back then, a Western Region lama who had handed him strange secret manuals like the Beast Poison Scripture had been staying at the estate.
And around the time he regained his memories, he had sensed a mysterious energy lying dormant within his body.
Could it be… that the lama Gongsun Hwa-uk spoke of was the very Western Region lama who had infused that mysterious energy into him as a child?
“Thank you.”
Having organized his thoughts, Bu Eunseol clasped his hands together.
“I will go see him.”
Thump-thump-thump.
Though he spoke calmly, his heart pounded fiercely.
If that person truly was the same Western Region lama who had stayed with him in his childhood…
Then he might finally obtain clues about his parents.
After parting with Gongsun Hwa-uk, Bu Eunseol returned to the guest pavilion prepared for him by the Gongsun family.
The interior had been thoroughly cleaned, and all the furniture was brand new yet somehow, it still carried a faint sense of desolation—probably because no one had lived here for a very long time.
Dragging his tired body, he immediately headed toward the bed.
Just as he was about to circulate his energy and rest, his gaze suddenly fell on the wooden pillar across from him.
He had noticed extremely faint characters engraved on the upper part of the pillar, worn smooth by many hands.
“So this was the room she used.”
On the upper part of the pillar, Bu Eunseol discovered very faintly carved letters.
Gongsun Dankyung.
And right beside it… another faint name had been carved.
Baek Museong.
“So that’s how it was.”
It was said that Gongsun Dankyung and Baek Museong had briefly been lovers in the past.
Judging by the fact that both their names were carved here, Baek Museong must have stayed in the Gongsun estate for quite some time.
Ziiing.
Unconsciously, Bu Eunseol raised his Void Heart Command and carefully examined the traces of the writing.
“It’s been about twenty years.”
No wonder the characters were faint and lacked strength.
It seemed they had been carved around twenty years ago. In other words, when the two of them were about ten years old.
“A childhood love, was it?”
Bu Eunseol let out a hollow laugh.
“Why am I even paying attention to something like this?”
This kind of behavior was exactly like that of a petty man obsessively digging into the past of an old lover.
“Pointless interest.”
Shaking his head, Bu Eunseol lay down on the bed.
But thinking that this was the place where Baek Museong had stayed as a child, all sorts of thoughts flooded his mind.
“In the end… we can never go back to how things were.”
Baek Museong was presumed to have joined the Three Realms.
No matter how unchanging Bu Eunseol’s feelings remained, Baek Museong would surely never feel the same.
“Red Mountain…”
Bu Eunseol looked at the map Gongsun Hwa-uk had given him.
How ironic.
The Western Region lama had been staying at Kwangyang Temple—a place so close to the Azure Cloud Sea Palace, right under everyone’s noses.
“If my guess is correct… I may finally be able to hear about my parents.”
Bu Eunseol’s heart pounded with excitement.
He almost wanted to summon Seo Jinha right now, entrust him with his duties, and head straight to the Western Regions.
“My Lady was so sad back then…”
At that moment, a strange sound came from outside.
“To think she would return as a grown woman, bringing a groom with her.”
It was the voices of servants passing far in the distance.
Bu Eunseol’s hearing was sharp enough to catch the sound of a falling leaf fifty zhang away, so their conversation reached him with perfect clarity.
‘Sad?’
Bu Eunseol couldn’t understand what the servants were talking about.
“Grown woman”…?
Did that mean something had happened to Gongsun Dankyung when she was young?
Step… step…
Then, from far away, the sound of quiet footsteps approached.
Bu Eunseol started in surprise.
It was a gait he had heard countless times in the Martial Alliance—the unmistakable footsteps of Gongsun Dankyung.
‘Why is she…?’
And the direction of those footsteps… was heading straight toward the very pavilion where Bu Eunseol was staying.
Why would she come looking for him at the crack of dawn?
“Lord Seon.”
From outside the door came Gongsun Dankyung’s soft, gentle voice.
“Are you awake?”
In that instant, Bu Eunseol felt as though smooth silk had brushed across the nape of his neck—his entire body tingled. Gongsun Dankyung’s voice was filled with such tender affection, it was as though she were calling a beloved lover.
“No… I’m awake.”
Flustered, Bu Eunseol hurriedly straightened his clothes and opened the door.
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