‘Strange.’
Bu Eunseol immediately sensed something off.
‘His martial prowess isn’t supposed to be at this level.’
In the past, when Baek Museong had worn a mask and unleashed the Seven Blood Tear Forms, his martial arts had been enhanced to an indescribable degree.
Even granting that the Heaven Beyond Flying Immortal was close to the maximum level of martial skill Seon Woojin could display, with Baek Museong’s true ability, he should have blocked it perfectly.
Yet, as if he hadn’t made a single step of progress in all this time—could he really lose so miserably?
“Will you admit defeat?”
Bu Eunseol asked calmly, gazing at Baek Museong with a complicated expression.
Grip.
Baek Museong tightly clutched the half-broken greatsword.
At the same time, a murderous glint that had never been there before flashed in his eyes.
“Just because a weapon is slightly damaged doesn’t mean the match is decided.”
Fortunately, Baek Museong showed the will to continue the spar.
‘Thank goodness.’
Bu Eunseol inwardly stroked his chest in relief. If Baek Museong had raised the white flag here, the entire plan would have gone awry.
Crack, crack.
As Baek Museong gripped the broken blade, a sound of bones creaking came from his body, and his expression twisted slightly.
It seemed he was grimacing from forcing his internal energy to the limit, but on closer inspection, his skin tone appeared subtly changed, and even his pupils and the shape of his eyes seemed faintly different.
Slight smile.
Baek Museong, meeting Bu Eunseol’s gaze, wore a faint smile.
Ziiing!
In that instant, vivid blue light burst from the broken half of Baek Museong’s blade.
He had materialized his internal energy to recreate the sword edge.
“Haaah!”
Baek Museong’s shout echoed in all directions.
BOOM.
Somewhere, it sounded as if the sky itself was collapsing, and the ground trembled.
The entire world turned pitch black, as though time had frozen.
Baek Museong poured out a bizarre power, turning the whole sparring platform—including the space where Bu Eunseol stood—into a domain of death.
‘This is…’
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
The actual scenery of the sparring platform hadn’t changed.
Only in his own eyes, exposed to that strange energy, did the whole world appear completely black.
‘What kind of technique is this now?’
It felt almost like mind-manipulation sorcery but it could not possibly invade his own mind, which had achieved Spirit Regulation Harmony.
Moreover, making only his eyes perceive such a scene was closer to heretical auxiliary arts than proper swordsmanship.
‘My body won’t move.’
And as the entire world blackened, Bu Eunseol couldn’t even twitch a finger.
Then Baek Museong’s eyes flashed.
It was clear he intended to pierce Bu Eunseol’s body with the materialized greatsword qi.
‘This kind of ending is unacceptable.’
The world had turned black only in his own vision.
The watching martial artists had no idea his body was immobilized.
If he took Baek Museong’s strike in this state?
The senior figures would forget all the fierce, razor-edge exchanges so far and mistakenly believe Bu Eunseol had suffered a pathetically hollow, absurd defeat.
‘In that case…’
Closing his eyes, Bu Eunseol raised the Heavenly Mirror Heart Sutra.
He tried to synchronize his internal energy circulation and true qi, desperately attempting to move his body somehow.
Hummm.
A faint light shimmered around Bu Eunseol’s body.
But then something astonishing happened.
The moment he activated Heavenly Mirror Heart Sutra, Baek Museong’s inner thoughts suddenly poured into his mind.
‘So it was an application of the Seven Blood Tear Forms.’
As Baek Museong’s mental images transmitted to him, Bu Eunseol realized these black mists were a technique derived from the principles of the Seven Blood Tear Forms.
And because he himself had mastered the Seven Blood Tear Forms, and because he had activated Heavenly Mirror Heart Sutra, he had unintentionally connected with the caster Baek Museong’s spirit.
Whoosh.
Once their spirits linked, the scene before Bu Eunseol transformed into a desolate world.
It was Baek Museong’s heart-image realm.
‘Death… no, nothingness?’
The world Baek Museong had created was utter death… or rather, closer to absolute nothingness.
It was as if everything that had once existed in his heart had vanished completely.
Yet even though the entire world had disappeared, leaving only black darkness, far in the distance, something very black could be seen.
It was the silhouette of a beautiful woman.
Though the darkness obscured her features, just from her figure alone, Bu Eunseol knew exactly who she was.
‘You still couldn’t let her go.’
Gongsun Dankyung.
Even in a soul so desolate it had turned the whole world to nothingness, Gongsun Dankyung still remained deep within Baek Museong’s heart.
‘You still love her.’
Though he had not wished to peer into Baek Museong’s mind, he could now confirm that Gongsun Dankyung still occupied a place there.
‘So it was the Clear River Realm.’
Only now did Bu Eunseol fully grasp which of the Three Realms Baek Museong belonged to.
The Clear River Realm.
Baek Museong belonged to the Clear River Realm, and he had undergone the great method of personality separation.
‘If she dies, will Brother Baek’s mind return?’
The way to break the secret art of the Clear River Realm is to shatter the one thing that person has desperately wished for throughout their life.
But Bu Eunseol could not bring himself to test it.
‘With her level of martial arts, she cannot convincingly fake death.’
Gongsun Dankyung was intelligent, but her martial prowess was not particularly high.
Unless she reached a level comparable to Bu Eunseol’s, she could never deceive the eyes of an expert like Baek Museong.
‘You’ve ruined yourself with such profound love.’
Bu Eunseol genuinely pitied Baek Museong.
‘It’s only regrettable that I cannot help you.’
But right now, he had to break the secret art Baek Museong had unleashed.
After a brief moment of thought, he slowly approached the place where Gongsun Dankyung’s shadow stood.
Instantly, the desolate world flared red.
The moment Bu Eunseol drew near her shadow with gentle affection, anger and jealousy began pouring into Baek Museong’s previously empty soul in vivid color.
Rumble—!
As the colors of the entire world shifted, Baek Museong’s heart-image realm started to collapse.
Bu Eunseol’s vision brightened, his body became movable again, and he could see Baek Museong’s motion as he launched the sword toward him.
What had felt like such a long time inside the heart-image realm had, in reality, been shorter than the snap of a finger.
‘This is the only way.’
Right now, Baek Museong was using that immobilizing secret art to stab straight for his heart in one blow.
But the match could never be decided by such a simple, crude move.
Flash!
From Bu Eunseol’s Silent Tiger Soul Sword, hundreds of sword qi soared into the sky and rained down like petals.
Using an application of the Heaven Beyond Flying Immortal, he enveloped both his and Baek Museong’s bodies in dazzling sword qi.
Shwaaa—
As a result, the watching martial artists could see only the splendid wing-like sword qi covering them.
They could not see the two men actually fighting.
But imagination often creates the most perfect reality.
Given the high-level combat they had witnessed so far, they would surely believe a terrifying exchange of sword techniques was happening within.
Schlk.
At the same moment, Baek Museong’s sword pierced deep into Bu Eunseol’s chest.
‘Avoid a truly fatal wound as much as possible.’
Having already raised the Crystal Divine Energy in advance, Bu Eunseol did not dodge but accepted the blade.
Schlk.
Simultaneously, Bu Eunseol drove his Silent Tiger Soul Sword—laden with eleven strands of internal energy—into Baek Museong’s shoulder.
Whoosh!
The sword qi vanished, revealing the two men.
Mutual destruction.
In the final instant, Bu Eunseol had staged a scene of mutual wounding.
Thud.
In the end, both dropped to one knee.
Though he had avoided a fatal injury, the wound in Bu Eunseol’s chest was deep enough to pierce straight through.
Clack.
But Baek Museong, with his shoulder run through, could not rise; his internal energy refused to flow properly, leaving him kneeling.
Thump.
Bu Eunseol then collapsed completely, feigning unconsciousness.
The match could no longer continue.
“That’s enough!”
Finally, with Buk Ri-seung’s shout, the spar to select the Martial Heaven Commander was halted.
***
Medicine Stone Pavilion.
A treatment facility reserved exclusively for high-ranking figures of the martial world, where each person was assigned a private quarters, along with dedicated maids always on duty and healers specializing in care.
‘They’re being extremely thorough.’
Lying on the bed and gazing out the window, Bu Eunseol wore a calm expression.
Using Crystal Divine Energy, he had avoided damage to vital organs and suffered only a through-and-through wound.
The real problem was the overwhelming sword qi that had flowed from the broken blade, nearly severing his meridians.
‘I created a draw on purpose.’
Strangely, the attitude of the healers and maids at Medicine Stone Pavilion was excessively courteous.
A sudden anxiety crept in—could the Martial Venerable have broken his promise and made him the Martial Heaven Commander after all?
‘There should have been contact by now.’
Yet six full days had passed since treatment began, and no particular news had arrived.
Of course, it was possible they were refraining from visits to allow proper rest due to the severity of the injury, but he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.
‘No, Brother Baek definitely retained consciousness at the end.’
The final exchange had been perfectly clear—Baek Museong’s victory.
With so many martial artists having witnessed the spar, even the Martial Venerable would find it difficult to overturn that fact.
‘What’s certain is that the Martial Venerable is mistaken.’
According to the Martial Venerable’s deduction, the Martial Alliance was presumed to have been infiltrated by the Returning to One Realm. Since Baek Museong had separated his personality, he naturally belonged to the Clear River Realm, not the Returning to One Realm.
‘Could the Three Realms really be fighting over supremacy in the Martial Alliance in this manner?’
Although the banners of the Three Realms stood in opposition, he had never seen them directly clash or engage in factional struggles.
Did that mean the “opposition” and “conflict” they spoke of was being carried out in this way?
‘In time, the truth will reveal itself.’
Baek Museong must have been absorbed into the Clear River Realm.
Even if he became Commander, he would likely lie low at first, but eventually he would become a puppet moving according to the Clear River Realm’s will.
When that happened, it would become clear how the Clear River Realm and Returning to One Realm were clashing, or what exactly they intended to do with the Martial Alliance.
Otherwise, there would be no reason for the Clear River Realm to bestow such martial arts and power on Baek Museong without cause.
‘They’re not aiming for the next Alliance Leader, are they?’
The Three Realms were subtly tightening their grip on the martial world.
If they could even place one of their puppets in the seat of Alliance Leader… they would be able to manipulate the entire martial world far more easily.
“Is there paper, brush, and ink?”
At Bu Eunseol’s call, a soft voice answered from outside.
“I will bring them right away, my lord.”
Scrape, scrape.
Sitting at the table, Bu Eunseol quickly wrote out the characters.
He folded the letter, placed it in an envelope, and tucked it into his robes.
“Excuse me.”
At that moment, with a knock, Tae Muryong entered.
“Captain.”
Approaching quickly, Tae Muryong spoke with a troubled expression.
“Because Medicine Stone Pavilion insisted you needed complete rest, they prohibited all visits for six days…”
“I’m aware.”
“But… are you really all right?”
Tae Muryong was startled to see Bu Eunseol’s perfectly fine face.
He too had watched the entire fight from below the sparring platform.
No matter how great one’s martial arts, a penetrating wound like that should have taken considerable time to recover from.
Yet Bu Eunseol looked as if he had merely been pricked by a needle.
‘You deliberately took the hit.’
With a faint smile, Tae Muryong suddenly raised his internal energy, forming a faint qi barrier to block sound.
Having consumed the Potential Demon Divine Pellet and received the Opening Aperture Method, he had already reached the level where he could weakly manifest protective qi.
Bu Eunseol nodded as he saw Tae Muryong raise the barrier.
“The decision has been made.”
“Yes.”
Tae Muryong’s eyes sparkled as he nodded.
“Fortunately, as planned, Baek Commander has been selected as the Martial Heaven Commander.”
“Good.”
Bu Eunseol smiled.
Now that Baek Museong had become Martial Heaven Commander, the Martial Venerable would have no choice but to keep his promise and grant him the Clear Heart Token.
“Unanimous?”
“No, not quite. Although Baek Commander clearly won, a few seniors raised objections, so a full grand council was eventually convened.” Tae Muryong continued in a low voice. “Fortunately, the majority of the seniors recommended Baek Commander for the position.”
Baek Museong had long maintained close ties with the heads of various sects and factions.
It was therefore obvious that elevating him to Commander would face little resistance.
“Once it was concluded that Baek Commander would become Commander, the Alliance Leader announced your appointment as Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord.”
Tae Muryong glanced around cautiously before continuing.
“However, the seniors fiercely opposed it—at one point the grand council was even temporarily suspended.”
“It would be an unacceptable appointment. That’s only natural.”
“But thanks to the materials presented by Chief Gongsun, it was ultimately approved.”
Through this spar, Bu Eunseol had proven his overwhelming martial prowess—enough that no one could complain even if he were made Commander.
However, suddenly appointing him Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord was a stretch.
After discussion with Gongsun Dankyung, they publicly disclosed the various covert missions he had carried out as Seon Woojin, highlighting his contributions, and pointed out the dark clouds hanging over the martial world.
She then strongly argued once more to the seniors:
Bu Eunseol, who freely moved through the martial world, should become Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord so he could constantly monitor the shifting situation and preemptively suppress any forces disrupting the martial world.
After reviewing all the materials, the seniors no longer had any justification to oppose his appointment, and the approval was finally granted.
“But this still feels somewhat off.” Tae Muryong said. “Even though the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord holds great authority, that authority applies outside the Martial Alliance. In reality, all they’ve done is add the power to command Alliance branches to what the Captain is already doing.”
The Supreme Corps Captain Seon Woojin had long operated covertly in the martial world, gathering information and carrying out missions.
The role of Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord was likewise to grasp the state of the martial world.
The only addition was the authority to mobilize and command Alliance branch forces when necessary.
Inside the Martial Alliance itself, the position held almost no real power.
“I didn’t mention that part earlier.”
Only now did Bu Eunseol recall that he had told the corps members he had merely been nominated for the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord position; he had not mentioned the Clear Heart Token.
“I will separately receive the Clear Heart Token so that I can monitor inside the Martial Alliance as well.”
“The Clear Heart Token…? Is that even possible?”
“With Baek Museong as Commander, from the Martial Venerable’s perspective, having someone with the authority to detect and restrain irregularities within the Alliance is not a bad thing.”
Tae Muryong’s mouth fell open.
“I don’t understand why that wasn’t mentioned at the grand council.”
“If it had been brought up beforehand, it would have met fierce opposition. They will likely exercise it under the Alliance Leader’s direct authority.”
“Direct Alliance Leader authority… I see.”
If they had announced both the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord position and the Clear Heart Token at the same time, the seniors would never have accepted it.
So they first secured official approval for the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord position, and then, at the next grand council when the seniors gathered again, the Clear Heart Token would be bestowed.
In any case, it was a power the Alliance Leader could grant unilaterally.
“Thank goodness. Not knowing that, we corps members were preparing all sorts of contingency plans while you were resting.”
The Supreme Corps members displayed absolute, blind loyalty; regarding anything concerning Bu Eunseol, they checked and re-checked countless times to ensure nothing was lacking or insufficient.
“I’m sorry. Lately there have been so many confusing matters that I’ve been distracted.”
“No, Vice-Captain.” Bu Eunseol patted Tae Muryong’s shoulder. “You’ve worked hard.”
“No need for such words. It is only what we should do.”
“And… you may be exposed to even greater danger from now on.” Bu Eunseol took a deep breath. “Until the Martial Soul Society grows large enough.”
“I have already prepared myself for that.” Tae Muryong smiled.
Now Bu Eunseol would become the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord, representing the Martial Alliance while directly monitoring and intervening in the affairs of the martial world. That meant the Supreme Corps members would face even more perilous tasks.
Moreover, Bu Eunseol had now created an unprecedented alliance between righteous and demonic factions, and he intended to nurture it into one of the three great powers of the martial world, on par with Majeon and the Martial Alliance.
In short, the Supreme Corps members—like Bu Eunseol himself—were now in a position where they could face mortal danger and death at any moment.
Yet Tae Muryong and the Supreme Corps felt no fear.
As long as they were with Bu Eunseol, they could walk into hell itself with smiles on their faces.
“And.”
Bu Eunseol secretly handed Tae Muryong the letter he had written earlier.
“Deliver this to the Cheongmyeong Hall Leader, Mu Gyeol.”
Looking at the letter, Tae Muryong’s eyes sharpened.
He realized Bu Eunseol was anticipating a certain situation.
“Indeed… a fruit that is only sweet… does not exist in our Alliance.”
If someone offered a sweet fruit… there was surely bitter poison hidden inside.
That was the nature of the Martial Alliance.
Tae Muryong smiled and clasped his hands together.
“I will deliver it at once.”
***
Finally, the Commander appointment ceremony began.
The Golden True Dragon, Baek Museong.
As the disciple of the Buddha Venerable, he had shaken the martial world with his fame and began his life as a martial artist of the Martial Alliance as a second-grade Captain.
While steadily accumulating achievements, he suffered an irreparable injury during the subjugation of Sichuan’s murderous fiend and quietly withdrew from the Martial Alliance.
But as if nothing had happened, he returned in spectacular fashion after beheading Hyeok Ryeon-eung—one of Majeon’s major members and branded as a traitor.
For that merit he rose to Hall Leader, eventually became a candidate for Martial Heaven Commander, passed through numerous trials, and finally became Commander.
This tale of adversity and perseverance would serve as an excellent example for the martial artists of the Martial Alliance.
It would likely be spoken of for a long time.
As the ceremony proceeded, the Alliance Leader, the Heavenly Emperor—who had repeatedly gone into secluded training—finally made an appearance.
Martial Heaven Commander.
It was one of the seven pillars supporting the Martial Alliance and the position that signified the next Alliance Leader.
When necessary, they could independently command an entire corps, and with just cause, they could refuse any order except that of the Alliance Leader.
For a martial artist of the Martial Alliance, it was a dream-like station.
To reach such a position in one’s thirties meant the three characters of Baek Museong’s name would stand tall in the martial world.
Click.
The Heavenly Emperor ascended the platform where Baek Museong stood and personally attached the shield-shaped armor plate symbolizing the Martial Heaven Commander to Baek Museong’s shoulder.
He was now officially appointed Martial Heaven Commander.
“I have great expectations for you going forward.”
“Thank you.”
“Say a few words.”
When the Heavenly Emperor extended his hand, Baek Museong bowed in respect.
Then he turned and looked down at the martial artists arrayed below the platform.
“I have ascended to a position far beyond what someone of my young age deserves.”
Without channeling internal energy, he still filled the entire training ground with his voice.
“I am grateful for your unstinting support and encouragement.”
Baek Museong spoke in an extremely solemn yet calm tone.
“I will strive to become a Commander who does not fall short of your expectations.”
It was an impression so restrained it almost felt bland.
Yet many martial artists nodded with admiring expressions.
They had expected Baek Museong to speak with ambition, calling them to follow him, or to put forward various promises to rally strong support.
But he simply presented himself with humility.
To maintain such composure even after ascending to a position of near-absolute power at a young age was no easy feat.
The martial artists were deeply moved by Baek Museong’s quiet, understated remarks.
After Baek Museong stepped down from the platform, Buk Ri-seung stepped forward next.
“Supreme Corps Captain Seon Woojin, come forward.”
Taking a deep breath, Bu Eunseol ascended the platform.
“Captain Seon Woojin. You have consistently rendered great service to this Alliance, and in the Martial Heaven Commander examination you displayed outstanding martial prowess and distinguished yourself.”
Buk Ri-seung spoke calmly.
“By decision of the grand council, I appoint you as the Lord of the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division. Capture and eradicate the forces disturbing the martial world.”
Buk Ri-seung then presented the Twin-Winged Phoenix Token symbolizing the authority of the Secret Intelligence Division.
“I will do my utmost.”
Bu Eunseol politely received the token, offered a respectful salute, and descended the platform again.
Today’s event was the appointment ceremony for Martial Heaven Commander Baek Museong.
Since he was not the central figure, he needed only to receive the Phoenix Token quietly and withdraw.
But at that moment, an unexpected turn occurred.
“Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord.”
A low voice reached his ear as he was descending.
The Heavenly Emperor who was standing at the center of the platform.
No—the Martial Venerable had called him to halt.
‘Surely not.’
Bu Eunseol tensed.
The Clear Heart Token was not a standing position or office; it was an immensely powerful surveillance token granted directly by the Alliance Leader.
Therefore, it was usually bestowed in the presence of the heads of relevant organizations such as the Punishment Hall or Enforcement Hall, rather than publicly.
Yet now, the Martial Venerable intended to bestow it publicly… right here at the Martial Heaven Commander appointment ceremony, with all the Martial Alliance members in attendance.
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