“Chief of Investigations, huh.”
The Martial Venerable gave a faint smile.
“You’ve thought of the most optimal position.”
The Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division was the organization responsible for grasping and managing the overall situation of the martial world.
It held precisely the same level of authority as the Martial Alliance’s Commander position—which had remained vacant for a very long time.
Because one must constantly monitor the state of the martial world, one could freely travel back and forth across the factions at any time. Moreover, since independent missions could be carried out, the scope of one’s freedom of action was extraordinarily wide.
And when the situation in the martial world became urgent, one could immediately command the forces of Martial Alliance branches in every region without first reporting to the Alliance Leader…
In effect, it was a position that carried the power and influence equivalent to a one-man sect. That was precisely the seat of the Master of the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division.
“But that is impossible.”
The Martial Venerable shook his head.
“In the entire history of the Martial Alliance, not even thirty people have ever ascended to the position of Master of the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division. If such an appointment were made, the opposition from the senior leadership would be indescribable.”
“Hasn’t there already been a person who, despite being in her thirties, was shockingly appointed to the position of Chief Inspector?”
“The position of Chief Inspector is different. It is a post that can be replaced at any time according to the opinions of the Alliance’s senior figures.” The Martial Venerable spoke coldly. “Precisely because it was a position that could be discarded whenever they felt dissatisfied, there was almost no opposition from the elders.”
He added, “However, the seat of Master of the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division is different. Unless one commits a grave mistake, one can hold that position for life.”
“You need not worry about opposition.” Bu Eunseol spoke firmly and clearly. “The Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division is a position that cannot exert real power within the Martial Alliance itself. From the elders’ perspective, it is overwhelmingly seen as a post where one merely wanders the martial world, suffering terribly.”
“You’ve truly become quite the man of the Alliance, haven’t you.”
“If it cannot be done, then I will withdraw here. Let each of us go our separate ways.”
It was not an empty threat.
If the Martial Venerable refused to grant him such a position, Bu Eunseol had already resolved to leave the Martial Alliance.
“Hm.”
The Martial Venerable stroked his chin for a moment.
What he desperately needed was precisely that.
Because… there was an absolute reason he had to keep Bu Eunseol by his side.
“Would the position of Master of the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division suffice?”
“Also grant me internal audit authority. So that, when necessary, I may inspect even inside the Martial Alliance.”
“Hahaha…”
The Martial Venerable let out a hollow laugh.
“Why not just ask for the Alliance Leader’s seat while you’re at it?”
He spoke firmly.
“Do you think the positions of this Alliance are child’s play? Do you believe that simply asking for internal audit rights alongside the Master of the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division means they will be handed over just like that?”
“They are handed over just like that.”
Bu Eunseol stared sharply at the Martial Venerable.
“That is precisely why the position of Alliance Leader exists.”
“If I did such a thing, the elders would immediately rise up and demand that the Alliance Leader’s authority be curtailed.”
“Isn’t that already happening?”
“What do you mean?”
“More than half of the executive leadership has already withdrawn their support for the Martial Alliance Leader, who is failing to properly handle the Alliance’s political affairs.”
“…”
“As time passes, either the Alliance Leader’s authority will continue to shrink… or they will try to elect the next Alliance Leader sooner than planned.”
A flash passed through Bu Eunseol’s eyes as he gazed at the Martial Venerable.
“Am I wrong?”
“You really have become completely a man of the Martial Alliance.” The Martial Venerable nodded. “If you know that much, then there is no room left for negotiation. Are there no other conditions?”
Bu Eunseol showed a slightly surprised expression.
He had not expected the Martial Venerable to concede so readily.
“There must be countless outstanding individuals around you like Mu Gyeol. Is there really any need to go this far?”
“Hahaha. Indeed, there are many prodigies.” The Martial Venerable spoke calmly. “But a young genius who has reached the Limitless Realm? Search the entire martial world and you still won’t find one.”
That was the truth.
No matter how many brilliant prodigies existed under heaven, finding a young man possessing both martial prowess and wisdom on the level of Bu Eunseol was exceedingly difficult.
“You too will come to understand soon enough. That this Alliance itself is like an abyss.”
The Martial Venerable’s gaze grew hazy.
Even he—who possessed martial arts rivaling those of the Heavenly Emperor and wisdom comparable to the greatest sage of the martial world—could not be confident in completely uprooting the Three Realms lurking within the Martial Alliance.
“I have no additional conditions, but there is one more thing I must ask.”
After a brief moment of thought, Bu Eunseol opened his mouth with sharp eyes.
“I’m not sure whether this is a question the Divine Mountain Sage should answer, but you must answer it.”
“Speak.”
“How can you be certain that one of the Seven Commanders was the one who killed my grandfather?”
Bu Eunseol swept his gaze over the Martial Venerable with piercing sharpness.
“Martial Venerable. Can your words be proven?”
That question had been blooming in his heart all this time.
The Divine Mountain Sage, who supposedly knew everything, did not know the identity of the one who killed his grandfather.
Yet he still gave the vague answer that it was one of the Seven Commanders?
“I believe I already answered that before.”
“That is not what I mean.”
Bu Eunseol pressed.
“The easiest way for a criminal to conceal his own crime…”
Staring straight into the Martial Venerable’s eyes, Bu Eunseol spoke clearly.
“Isn’t it precisely to pin the crime on someone else?”
The Martial Venerable remained silent for a moment.
After staring into empty space for a while, he nodded.
“There is reason in what you say.”
“You admit it?”
“Yes. Your suspicion is certainly reasonable.”
After sighing, he spoke coldly.
“Very well. I will answer. First—my words cannot be proven. Because no matter how many hundreds of pieces of evidence I present, if you refuse to believe them, that is the end of it.”
Bu Eunseol agreed.
No matter what the Martial Venerable said, without perfect physical proof, he would never believe it to be the truth.
“Second, the reason I was convinced it was one of the Seven Commanders is because this old man also investigated who killed the Seven-Finger Demon Blade.”
The Martial Venerable turned his gaze and stared directly into Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“And among the masters I suspected, the only ones whose whereabouts could not be traced were the Seven Commanders.” He continued calmly. “Moreover, on the very day the Seven-Finger Demon Blade was attacked, someone deliberately erased the movements of the Seven Commanders. Completely and cleanly.”
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
A force capable of simultaneously and perfectly erasing the whereabouts of all Seven Commanders of the Martial Alliance.
Wasn’t there only one such force?
“The Three Realms are behind it?”
“That is my conjecture. Though I could not find definitive proof.”
In the end, just as the Martial Venerable said… no matter which way things turned, Bu Eunseol had to destroy the Three Realms.
It was as though it were fate.
“Are there really no other conditions now?”
After a silence, Bu Eunseol nodded.
“None.”
“Good.” The Martial Venerable said, “As soon as the Commander test concludes, I will raise you to the position of Master of the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division. However, there are three conditions.”
“Three conditions?”
“Even if I appoint you as Master of the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division, if the executive leadership opposes it, that is the end. You will need to prepare things that prove you possess sufficient qualification.”
That was not so much a condition as something Bu Eunseol would naturally have to do.
“I accept.”
When Bu Eunseol nodded, the Martial Venerable continued.
“The second condition is that in the final contest, you must lose. If you win, you will inevitably have to become a Commander.”
“The final test is a spar?”
“Correct.”
The Martial Venerable said, “The majority of this Alliance’s senior figures want the Ascendant Martial Hall Leader to become Commander. If I personally select the test, they will immediately refuse to accept it.”
He gave a sneer.
“And they will surely propose a spar instead. Of course, if I pretend to lose and accept it, no one will ever be able to raise objections afterward.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
As expected of someone who held the dual identity of the Divine Mountain Sage—he possessed truly outstanding cunning.
“And the third condition is…”
The Martial Venerable’s gaze turned utterly cold.
“Since I am granting you such a position, I too need a safety measure. Do you agree?”
In short—he intended to put a leash around Bu Eunseol’s neck.
Bu Eunseol stroked his chin.
“Are you telling me to drink poison?”
“Whether it is poison or something else is for me to decide. I am asking whether you agree.”
“Fine.”
Bu Eunseol answered readily.
“I agree.”
Whether poison, curse, or any kind of restriction—he was confident he could remove it.
“Good. The deal is struck.”
As the Martial Venerable turned to leave, Bu Eunseol tilted his head slightly.
“You are not going to apply the restriction?”
“I already did.”
“Already?”
A murderous smile played at the corner of the Martial Venerable’s mouth.
“I planted gu* insects in the Supreme Corps members a long time ago.”
*gu just means poison/a type of curse but most often it’s just a kind of poison
In that instant, Bu Eunseol’s expression hardened.
“Why would you plant gu in them?”
“Even after it became an organization on the level of a small clan, you neither replenished your warriors nor expanded—but you continuously trained them, turning them into something akin to elite special operatives.”
The Martial Venerable spoke with an icy expression.
“Despite being suspected of being a spy multiple times, your vice-captain risked his life to protect you.”
“…”
“At that level, it means the operatives already know your true identity.” Smiling broadly, the Martial Venerable continued nonchalantly. “You trained them so harshly precisely so that even if they ever had to leave the Alliance… they would still be able to stand on their own.”
In truth, this discovery was not particularly surprising.
The Martial Venerable already knew Bu Eunseol’s identity. Naturally, he would have thoroughly investigated the Supreme Corps members as well. Having confirmed their loyalty and level of training, the Martial Venerable had seen through the fact that Bu Eunseol cherished them like family.
Crack.
Bu Eunseol clenched his fist tightly.
If the restriction had been placed on himself, even if it were impossible to remove, he would have accepted it willingly.
But to inject such vicious gu into operatives who had nothing to do with this?
‘If I get agitated now, I’ll only be acknowledging a weakness.’
Swallowing his boiling rage, Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“The great Martial Venerable would stoop to poisoning mere Martial Alliance warriors?”
“Since they have pledged loyalty to you, they are no longer Martial Alliance warriors, nor righteous faction men.”
Having seized back the initiative from Bu Eunseol, the Martial Venerable spoke in a much more relaxed tone.
“You may refuse. I will not force you.”
“…”
“However, if you wish to enjoy such immense power within the Martial Alliance while also protecting your cherished subordinates… then you must pay a corresponding price.”
In exchange for granting unprecedented authority, the Martial Venerable intended to hold the lives of the Supreme Corps members as hostages.
It was also an exceedingly effective method, one that saw straight through Bu Eunseol’s personality.
“Let me warn you in advance—do not even think about removing the gu.”
The Martial Venerable spoke with confidence.
“This is gu that this old man poured his heart and soul into creating. Unless one dissects the body, it cannot be found. And the moment any attempt at removal is detected, the poison will immediately flare up.”
Gu insects were usually created in male-female pairs to prevent removal or detoxification.
Moreover, since this was gu personally crafted by the Martial Venerable—who carried the shadow of the Divine Mountain Sage—as he said, it would not be easy to remove, and it surely possessed various abilities incomparable to ordinary gu.
“No method exists to simultaneously remove the gu from twenty people. In the end, they will become perfect hostages.”
“Indeed.”
“Are you satisfied with that? Perhaps I might come to regard them as disposable tools.”
“If such a result occurs, then I would conclude that this old man’s judgment has dulled.”
The Martial Venerable’s eyes overflowed with confidence.
He had already completely grasped Bu Eunseol’s personality and temperament.
“You speak as though you have some lofty purpose… yet in the end, you are merely taking others’ lives hostage?”
“Does it seem cruel and petty to you?”
In response to Bu Eunseol’s sharp condemnation, the Martial Venerable instead straightened his shoulders and spoke proudly.
“Eradicating the spies within the Alliance and destroying the Three Realms is a matter that concerns not only this old man’s life, but the very survival of the righteous martial world.”
“…”
“Did you perhaps expect that I would employ only ideal and upright means?” The Martial Venerable’s expression grew even more solemn. “The reason I trusted you is because I believed your sole purpose for entering the Martial Alliance was to avenge Bu Zhanyang.”
“…”
“If you had shouted about justice, or prattled on about righteousness and morality, I would have driven you out without a second glance.”
Bu Eunseol fell silent.
The enemies the Martial Venerable intended to confront were the Three Realms—people who killed the supreme righteous master in silence and had even seized control of the Martial Alliance.
They could never be opposed through upright and just means alone.
‘In the end, the Martial Venerable too is someone who will stop at nothing for revenge.’
Gratitude and grudge, blood feud, vengeance.
Once one stepped into the martial world, there was no escaping the hell created by those words.
“This old man has staked his life on purifying the Martial Alliance and finding my younger brother’s killer.” The Martial Venerable spoke decisively. “If my methods displease you, or if you intend to interfere, then leave now. I will never stop you.”
Bu Eunseol said nothing.
In truth, his own reason for entering the Martial Alliance was solely to find his grandfather’s killer.
Beyond that, he desired nothing.
‘Wasn’t this more or less expected?’
He had known full well that the Martial Venerable would not easily grant him the position of Master of the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division, and that he would try to impose some kind of restriction.
The only unexpected part was that he would use the lives of the Supreme Corps members as collateral.
‘In that case.’
To detoxify his subordinates who already had gu implanted, he would have to remain in the Martial Alliance for at least some period of time.
“Very well.”
“Then it is decided.”
The Martial Venerable said, “As soon as the Commander test is over, I will appoint you Master of the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division. You will possess the authority of a one-man sect and be free to roam the martial world.”
“What about audit authority?”
“Together with the Investigation Chief position, I will issue the Clear Heart Token.”
The Martial Venerable said, “However, it is different from a Martial Soul Command Lord. You may only initiate an audit when you possess accurate physical evidence. But once the precise conditions are met and it is activated… you will be able to mete out immediate punishment as though you had combined the Enforcement Hall and the Punitive Law Hall.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
If that were the case, he would obtain an even better card than simply becoming one of the Seven Commanders.
“Understood.”
“You’re not going to ask anything else?”
“About what?”
“You haven’t asked the most important thing.”
The Martial Venerable said something unexpected.
“My intentions toward you. Until when I will keep your secret.”
That was precisely what Bu Eunseol had most wanted to confirm.
“You’re right. What I was most curious about was your true intention.”
Bu Eunseol honestly admitted.
“If you harbor malice toward me, then I absolutely cannot remain in the Martial Alliance.”
“You mean there is no need to ask now?”
“You too are a man racing toward revenge. In any case, trust between us is unnecessary, isn’t it?”
Perhaps pleased with Bu Eunseol’s reply, for the first time the Martial Venerable lifted the corner of his mouth.
“Just as you are now, go and seek Bu Zhanyang’s killer. Meanwhile, I will uproot the forces of the Three Realms hidden within the Martial Alliance.”
Sharp energy poured from the Martial Venerable’s body.
“Then your true identity will never be exposed.”
Though one could not call his path a righteous one, for the sake of revenge, he would not hesitate to do anything—and even if his body burned to ash, he would wear a satisfied smile.
The path of vengeance.
The Martial Venerable too walked the same road as Bu Eunseol.
“Understood.”
Bu Eunseol said calmly.
“In exchange, once our respective goals are achieved, please detoxify the operatives.”
“I will.”
“Then I will take my leave.”
After giving a brief salute, Bu Eunseol turned without hesitation.
“The Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Jade Coffin will damage the Ice Crystal Jade the moment it is moved.”
The Martial Venerable said indifferently.
“However, since I have now obtained one more Ice Crystal Jade, this mechanism will stay sealed shut.”
In other words, the Martial Venerable had deliberately assigned the mission to retrieve Ice Crystal Jade so that the corpse of the Heavenly Emperor could be moved to a place where it would never be found again.
“There will be no more reason for me to come here.”
Without hesitation, Bu Eunseol left the mechanism.
Then, as though nothing had happened, he headed back toward his office.
Step. Step.
Yet something was strange.
As Bu Eunseol walked slowly, his eyes grew colder and colder.
‘The Martial Venerable, you too were deceiving me while hiding another card up your sleeve.’
He had almost completely believed him.
When a man like that laid bare all his cards and burned with determination for revenge?
No one would be able to disbelieve him.
‘He is convinced that I have no memories from childhood.’
He had likely confirmed it back when Bu Eunseol was raised by his grandfather.
In reality, all memories of his early childhood spent with his parents had been completely erased.
Perhaps he had heard it directly from his grandfather, or had confirmed it somehow.
‘Father used a Black Divine Artifact?’
While traveling the martial world, Bu Eunseol had recovered fragmentary memories of his childhood and among them… was the fact that his father had already discarded the Black Divine Artifact long ago.
He had even discarded his own power.
Yet the Martial Venerable had casually let slip that his father possessed the Black Divine Artifact, and that was why he had been driven to be a Heaven-Dark Star.
In other words—he knew the truth behind his father’s death… and had lied to Bu Eunseol.
‘And if he brought up Father, he should have naturally mentioned Mother as well.’
His mother had been so outstanding in sorcery and Taoist arts that she had taught his father a technique to seal the Black Divine Artifact.
If his father had been killed by the Three Realms, then naturally Mother’s story should have come up as well.
In the end, the Martial Venerable knew various truths yet was concealing them from him.
And the reason was surely to manipulate him in whatever way suited his taste.
Just like the Demon Heavenly Emperor.
‘There is no one in the Martial Alliance who truly cares for the martial world.’
Even the Martial Venerable—who proclaimed that he would protect the righteous martial world in place of the Heavenly Emperor—was ultimately searching for something he himself desired.
Otherwise, he would never have deceived or tried to control Bu Eunseol.
‘It will never go according to your wishes.’
Bu Eunseol gazed at the distant sky.
‘You will understand once the Martial Alliance is split into three.’
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
If events unfolded as he predicted, the Martial Alliance too would become like Majeon—a tripartite balance of power, divided into three equal factions.
And only when power was divided and chaos reigned… would the opportunity arise to once again elevate the Martial Soul Society.
***
“Huu…”
Staring at the spot where Bu Eunseol had left, the Martial Venerable let out a deep sigh.
“To the very end, I could not penetrate that brat’s heart.”
His eyes narrowed.
“In the end, I could only judge by his expressions and gaze.”
Though he could not read heavenly secrets like the Wood Buddha, the title of Divine Mountain Sage had not been earned for nothing.
He possessed insight and wisdom surpassing anyone else, and his understanding of all the great and small affairs of the martial world—as well as the myriad types of human nature—was profound.
Though he could not dominate Bu Eunseol’s heart, he had still been able to grasp a rough outline of his intentions.
“Still, the wait was worth it.”
In the Martial Venerable’s hand, some object glimmered faintly.
“The bloodline of the Baekri family is certain.”
His voice trembled with joy.
After gazing at the shining object for a long while, he carefully placed it back into his robes.
“I hope the power of the Baekri lineage manifests soon. Because of that bizarre energy in the dantian… there is no way to act yet…”
The Martial Venerable.
In the end, just as suspected—he was not truly pursuing the revenge of the Heavenly Emperor, but was advancing yet another plan.
“Just a little longer.”
The Martial Venerable let out a low nasal breath.
“Baekri Geomha.”
Gazing at the distant sky, the Martial Venerable narrowed his eyes.
“Until then… you must remain in the Martial Alliance. In my embrace.”
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